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Secondhand Death: WHO Sounds Alarm as Tobacco Claims Lives of 1.3 Million Innocent Bystanders Annually
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tobacco Epidemic 2025 report, an estimated 1.3 million people die each year due to exposure to second-hand smoke. The report was unveiled during the World Conference on Tobacco Control in Dublin, where WHO emphasized the urgent need to sustain and intensify global tobacco control efforts amid growing industry interference.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The report highlights the six key components of the WHO MPOWER strategy, which includes:
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Monitoring tobacco use and policies,
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Protecting the public through smoke-free legislation,
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Offering support for tobacco cessation,
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Warning about the dangers of tobacco through packaging and public campaigns,
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Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising and sponsorships,
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And Raising taxes on tobacco products.
“Every year, 1.3 million deaths are linked to second-hand smoke,” the report states. It also noted that 79 countries have now adopted comprehensive smoke-free laws, protecting about a third of the global population. Notably, Cook Islands, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and Uzbekistan joined the list of nations with strong smoke-free regulations since 2022, despite resistance—particularly from the hospitality industry.
Since MPOWER’s launch in 2007, 155 countries have adopted at least one of its measures at best-practice levels. Currently, over 6.1 billion people—three-quarters of the world’s population—are covered by at least one of these policies, compared to just one billion in 2007. Only four countries—Brazil, Mauritius, the Netherlands, and Türkiye—have fully implemented all six MPOWER measures, while seven more are one step away.
However, WHO warned of significant shortfalls: 40 nations still lack any MPOWER measure at best-practice level, and more than 30 countries permit cigarette sales without mandatory health warnings.
Marking 20 years since the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the organization remains determined:
“While we’ve made remarkable progress, the tobacco industry continues to adapt. We must stay ahead. With science, policy, and political will, we can end the tobacco epidemic.”
The report also recognized efforts by several governments and NGOs in reducing tobacco use. Michael Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries, noted:
“Since 2007, countries have changed the way they fight tobacco, thanks in part to Bloomberg Philanthropies. But the work is far from over.”
The report further revealed the most progress has been made in implementing graphic health warnings on tobacco packaging—an FCTC-recommended strategy shown to be highly effective. Still, enforcement varies significantly, and smokeless tobacco products remain under-regulated.
To support global transparency and accountability, WHO has launched a data portal tracking national progress from 2007 through 2025. It revealed that 110 countries have not conducted a single anti-tobacco mass media campaign since 2022.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has recorded a historic breakthrough with the emergence of its first female pilot, Superintendent of Customs Nafisat Balogun, who recently earned a commercial multi-engine pilot licence in the United States.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The achievement was celebrated by the Nigeria Customs Technical Hangar Service, marking a significant step in the agency’s drive to strengthen its aviation capacity for surveillance, logistics, and anti-smuggling operations.
At a ceremony attended by senior officers, the Managing Director of the Customs Technical Hangar Service, retired Comptroller of Customs Capt. Kuhi Mbaya, described the development as a landmark moment for the service.
He said Balogun’s transition from cabin crew to certified commercial pilot represents a major breakthrough for the Customs aviation unit and highlights the agency’s commitment to professional growth and inclusivity.
He added that the milestone reflects expanding opportunities within the Service as it continues to integrate air assets into its enforcement and border monitoring operations.
Balogun expressed gratitude for the support she received, noting that her journey required dedication and resilience, while pledging to apply her new skills in advancing the Customs mandate with professionalism and discipline.
The development has been widely described within the Service as an inspiration for greater female participation in technical and specialised roles.
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Osun 2026: APC Candidate Oyebamiji Pledges Inclusive Governance For Non-Indigenes, Interest Groups.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Osun State, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), has pledged to ensure inclusive governance by integrating non-indigenes and various interest groups if elected in the August 15, 2026 governorship election.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said his administration would operate a structured system that promotes participation and representation of all segments of society in governance.
The pledge was conveyed by a former lawmaker and ex-Special Adviser on Civic Engagement, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, after he represented the candidate at an engagement with members of the Arewa community in Ibokun, Obokun Local Government Area.
Oyintiloye said the plan is aimed at strengthening the link between government and grassroots communities, ensuring public policies reflect citizens’ real needs.
He added that all groups would be actively involved in both policy formulation and implementation to drive development in the state.
Oyebamiji also promised continued engagement with farmers, traders, artisans, and non-indigene communities as key stakeholders in governance.
Responding, leaders of the Arewa community commended past inclusion efforts and pledged support for the APC candidate ahead of the election.
Barely a year after its inauguration in Akwa Ibom State, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been plunged into a deep factional crisis.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Multiple factions are now locked in a struggle for control of the party, leaving members uncertain about the legitimate leadership structure.
One faction is led by John Akpanudodehe, a former National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), while another is headed by the embattled state chairman, Dick Duke.
Although the leader of a third faction could not be immediately confirmed, findings indicate that another group also exists within the party.
Sources further suggest that the Akpanudodehe-led faction is seeking to remove the current chairman through a recently held congress that has sparked controversy.
In response, Dick Duke convened a stakeholders’ meeting over the weekend, where he rejected the legitimacy of the said congress.
He said the party had formally written to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to distance itself from the exercise, citing a subsisting court order.
According to him, his tenure as state chairman is still valid until May, and any congress conducted before then would be unlawful.
Duke added that the party would only proceed with proper congresses after the expiration of his tenure and the resolution of legal issues, in line with due process.
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