A senior medical expert, Dr Leo Odudu, has called on government authorities to intensify anti-tobacco awareness campaigns using local languages, saying it would significantly improve public understanding of the dangers associated with tobacco use.
Odudu, who serves as Medical Director of Emel Hospital in FESTAC, Lagos, made the appeal during an interview ahead of the 2026 World No Tobacco Day.
He explained that the annual observance, marked on May 31, was established by the World Health Organisation in 1987 to highlight the health risks of tobacco use and promote effective control strategies.
The 2026 theme, “Unmasking the Appeal – Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” focuses on exposing how tobacco and nicotine industries use flavoured products, digital platforms and lifestyle branding to attract young people and sustain addiction.
It also emphasises the need to protect vulnerable groups such as women, girls and young people from targeted advertising and misleading harm-reduction messaging.
Odudu noted that one of the major challenges in reducing tobacco use is poor public education on its health risks and addictive nature.
He said low literacy levels, particularly in rural communities, have made it easier for misinformation and harmful practices to persist.
According to him, tobacco consumption remains more prevalent among less educated populations, who are often also affected by poor nutrition and limited access to healthcare, worsening its health impact.
He added that while government revenue considerations often dominate discussions around tobacco, the long-term health consequences are frequently overlooked.
Warning labels on cigarette packs, he said, are not sufficient deterrents, especially since heavy users often purchase tobacco in ways that bypass such messages.
Despite ongoing public health campaigns by medical professionals, Odudu said more comprehensive efforts are still needed to curb tobacco use.
He recommended sustained public education, improved economic conditions and the involvement of community institutions such as religious organisations, market associations and social groups in awareness campaigns.
He further urged the government to sponsor anti-tobacco messaging in local languages to ensure wider reach and understanding.
Odudu also called for stricter regulation of tobacco-related industries, stronger border control measures and tighter restrictions on the importation of harmful substances.