As the war against tobacco smoking intensifies, different countries and governments across the world are daily coming up with stringent measures to win the battle, save lives and phase out the menace that has dealt more blows to humanity than the dreaded HIV/AIDS scourge. In Nigeria, while the passage of the Nigeria tobacco control bill, a comprehensive law meant to regulate the manufacturing, advertising distribution and consumption of tobacco products in the country, is still being awaited many states are introducing means of scaling down tobacco smoking levels for a better society. Although still in line with the tobacco control bill which is aimed at domesticating the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, FCTC, individual states are actively introducing customized method to curb the tragic trend which has given rise to the prevalence of tobacco related diseases and mortality in the country. In Osun, the House of Assembly has passed the Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Bill and it was signed into law by the state government last year. This decision was widely hailed as one of the most far-reaching efforts taken by any state in the country to safeguard public health. The bill prohibits smoking in cinemas, theatres or the stadia, medical establishments, hotels; offices, schools and public transportation, nursery institutions and lifts. Lagos State seems to be following in the footsteps of Osun State in this instance as during all public places and facilities across the state during the 2010 World No Tobacco Day celebration recently as ‘no smoking areas’ to discourage smoking and wipe out the menace which has been a source of concern to many governments

across the globe. Although, as it is, there is no bill on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly against the scourge, the health ministry is coming up with a campaign on smoking in order to encourage smokers to quit the habit as well as discourage adolescents and young adults from taking up smoking. Jide Idris, commissioner for health, who spoke on the planned campaigns on the occasion of the celebration of ‘World No Tobacco Day tagged “Gender and Tobacco� with emphasis on marketing to women, explained that the campaign will involve the creation of awareness about tobacco and its effect among the general populace; discouraging smoking among adolescents and early adults and disseminating information about the effects of tobacco on pregnancy and the health of mother at all the towns, cities and grass root areas of the state. While it remains incontrovertible that smoking is the second cause of death globally, responsible for the death of one out 10 adults worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation, WHO, it became imperative for states to take all necessary steps to encourage smokers to quit preventing avoidable deaths, promoting healthy living and protecting future generations. Shedding light on the theme for this year celebration, Idris said the WHO was trying to encourage governments to pay attention to the protection of women from attempt to lure them into lifetimes of nicotine dependence by tobacco companies. “It is observed that as women are adopting more dominant roles in the society and have increased spending power, tobacco companies are becoming more aggressive in targeting women in their marketing efforts. More worrisome is the fa

fact that women are being extensively targeted in tobacco marketing, and tobacco companies have produced brands specifically for women,� he intoned. Many governments are yet to take decisive actions to curb the scourge because of the huge revenue they generate from taxes paid by tobacco companies. A state like Lagos would definitely be reluctant for obvious reasons, but with the proposed ban of tobacco smoking in public places, Lagos would no longer have any hiding place as it would have to sponsor a bill for a law to back this action. Otherwise, the ban would end up being a journey in futility. Idris: Creating awareness about tobacco and its effect