Nigeria Can Learn from Sweden’s Smoke-Free Revolution, But Must Find Its Own Path

 

By Oyeyemi Abolade | Fct, Abuja

Sweden is on the verge of becoming the world’s first smoke-free nation, and its success is stirring conversations thousands of miles away in Nigeria, where experts believe the Scandinavian model offers vital lessons for reducing smoking-related deaths.

At a high-level policy dialogue on Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR)

held on October 15 at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, health professionals, policymakers, and advocates gathered under the theme “Can Nigeria Quit Like Sweden?” The event, organised by Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) Nigeria in collaboration with Quit Like Sweden, explored how Nigeria could adapt Sweden’s strategies to its own local realities.

“Sweden’s approach to THR shouldn’t be used as a universal template,” said Suely Castro, Director of Quit Like Sweden. “Our countries differ in culture, population, and health system, but Nigeria can still draw inspiration from Sweden’s experience and tailor it to her context.”

Joining virtually, Dr. Fredrik Nyström, Professor of Internal Medicine at Linköping University, noted that Sweden’s steady investment in research and safer nicotine alternatives helped it reduce daily smoking rates to below 5 percent, among the lowest in Europe. By contrast, Nigeria’s rate stands at around 10 percent, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

During the Public Health Context session, moderated by Molly Ogbodum of Students for Sensible Drug Policy International, panelists including Uche Olatunji, Dr. Tatah Eunice, and Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi called for a balanced harm-reduction framework that acknowledges Nigeria’s realities while promoting prevention and cessation.

“Tobacco harm reduction isn’t a replacement for quitting,” Adebisi explained. “It’s a bridge that helps smokers transition to safer nicotine options rather than continuing with cigarettes, ultimately saving lives.”

Olatunji stressed the importance of engaging young people with honest information, saying, “When youth are given facts, not fear, they make better choices for their health.”

The dialogue also spotlighted misinformation and regulatory gaps. Prof. Martin Ike-Muonso of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council and Gabriel Oke of Tobacco Harm Reduction Journalists emphasised the need for community trust.

“If traditional and religious leaders understand and communicate the science behind safer alternatives,” Prof. Ike-Muonso said, “it becomes easier to challenge myths and foster healthier habits.”

In her closing remarks, Castro urged Nigeria to ground its harm-reduction policies in local data, cultural insight, and public trust. “Sweden’s model can inspire us,” she said, “but Nigeria’s version must be rooted in her own soil.”

As participants pledged to spread accurate THR information within their communities, one message stood clear: a smoke-free Nigeria is possible, but only if science, culture, and sincerity walk hand in hand.