NTCA seeks ban on smoking at airports

By Gboyega Adeoye, Lagos - 31.01.2008

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), the umbrella body of non-governmental organisations and institutions working on tobacco control in Nigeria, has petitioned the Federal Government requesting that all airports across the country be declared tobacco-free.

In the petition signed by NTCA’s National Coordinator, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi and sent to the Transport Minister, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, the coalition lamented that smoking persists in Nigerian airports as against the provisions of the Tobacco Control Act of 1990 and global aviation trends. It also condemned the presence of tobacco billboards in some airports.

NTCA alleged that “smoking persists in our major airports such as the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja; Aminu Kano Airport, Kano; Port Harcourt International Airport and Sam Mbakwe Airport, Owerri, among several others”, pointing out that the Tobacco Control Act prohibits smoking in public buildings including those of public transportation and offices.

“Several countries of the world are enacting smoke-free public places policy including complete ban on smoking in airports in order to safeguard the health of their citizens. Airports are frequented by children, it is also a workplace and as such, the global trend is to make the precinct of airports completely smoke-free to safeguard the health of passengers and workers.”