The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), in partnership with Protecting and Activating Communities Against Tobacco (PACT) Lagos Hub, hosted a crucial Inter-Ministerial/Agency Stakeholders Engagement and Press Conference to mark World No Tobacco Day 2025.
The event, held recently at LASEPA’s Conference Room, with the theme: “Unmasking the Appeal – Exposing Industry Tactics on Tobacco and Nicotine Products,” sheds light on the deceptive strategies employed by tobacco companies to glamorise harmful products, especially among young people.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of LASEPA, welcomed stakeholders and underscored the significant environmental impact of tobacco use, in addition to its well-known health consequences.
He reiterated Lagos State’s steadfast commitment to enforcing non-smoking laws, which prohibit smoking in enclosed public spaces under 100 square meters and in public vehicles.
Dr. Ajayi warned that violators face imprisonment and fines, with penalties increasing for repeat offences. These regulations, he emphasised, apply to both traditional cigarettes and newer nicotine delivery devices.
He urged establishments such as schools, clubs, hotels, and lounges to comply with regulations by clearly designating and displaying non-smoking areas. Dr. Ajayi affirmed LASEPA’s dedication to strengthening enforcement and cautioned that non-compliance would lead to serious sanctions.
Mrs. Ayodele Oso, Head of LASEPA’s Air Quality and Emissions Unit, highlighted how this year’s campaign exposes the tobacco and nicotine industries’ manipulative marketing aimed at attracting youth.
She noted that despite global restrictions, these industries continue to introduce enticing packaging, flavours, and digital promotions to portray their products as harmless. Of particular concern is the increasing use of e-cigarettes disguised as tech gadgets and the involvement of social media influencers in normalizing tobacco use.
Mrs. Oso warned that secondhand smoke remains a major public health risk and called for a united effort to expose and resist these tactics.
Representing PACT Lagos Hub, Mr. Joseph George commended LASEPA for its proactive role and stressed the importance of a unified front in safeguarding young Lagosians.
He cautioned that the marketing of flavoured tobacco and e-cigarettes continues to jeopardize youth health, advocating for the strict enforcement of laws prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to individuals under 18. Mr. George also pushed for a statewide smoke-free school policy and the enforcement of the 200-meter radius for tobacco sales around schools.
Furthermore, Mr. George urged the Lagos State Government to extend tobacco control to include synthetic and non-tobacco nicotine products, which have become increasingly popular and dangerously under-regulated. He also called for the protection of public health policymakers from the influence of the tobacco industry, particularly when disguised as corporate social responsibility and youth empowerment programmes.
He concluded by emphasising the dangers of secondhand smoke and the urgent need for coordinated enforcement efforts at the community level, with support from Agencies such as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps.
The event saw attendance from representatives of the Lagos Ministry of Health, Lagos Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (Lagos Command), and the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.
