Stoic
The menace of smoking and drug use by some residents within the hall is not news to residents of Nnamdi Azikiwe hall. It has remained a great source of concern to not only residents whose rooms are close to the smoking hotspots but also other residents of the hall at large. One could easily catch them red-handed in their numbers during the early and late hours of the day in the hall's kitchenettes, store rooms and behind every other block, most especially the alumni block which they have made their den and favorite smoking spot.
Dangers of smoking and drug use
Any random human being who has the unfortunate privilege of witnessing these smokers doing their thing certainly cannot but question such an act and the reasoning behind it, given the unpleasantness it produces and the spectacular way it takes over the air. Clearly written on the carton packs of most cigarettes is the widely known caveat “Smokers are liable to die young”. This brings even more concerns about whether or not these people are aware of the gravity of the harm they are doing to themselves or if they probably have a death wish. But then scientific research has shown that the nicotine from cigarettes and tobacco-related products is very addictive, and sadly addiction rewires the brain in a strange way.
The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction profile for Nigeria, one of the most recent comprehensive studies on smoking-related mortality in Nigeria, updated in February 2025, reports that tobacco smoking was responsible for approximately 15,926 deaths, equating to roughly 0.87% of all deaths in the country, with the breakdown of about 11,974 male deaths and 4,132 female deaths, respectively. While less data is available for non-tobacco-related fatalities, the World Health Organisation (WHO) attributed 6,273 deaths in Nigeria to drug use in 2020. This underscores the dangerous effect of smoking and drug use.
Beyond the well-known health consequences, such as lung disease, heart conditions and cancer, smoking and drug use among students come with a variety of other risks that impact their academic, psychological and social lives. Such risks include memory impairments and lack of focus, which may lead to poor grades, absenteeism and higher drop-out rates. Also, mental health is affected, as students who use drugs and smoke are more prone to anxiety, depression and addiction. Socially, substance use damages relationships with family and peers. It often led students into negative peer groups, increasing exposure to risky behaviours and violence.
Also, students caught with illegal substances may face arrest, fines, or a criminal record, which can harm future education and career prospects. Maintaining this habit can also strain limited student budgets, sometimes leading to theft or debt.
Passive smokers are not left out
Zikites who live in rooms which are close to kitchenettes where other people smoke fall into this category. They inhale their own dose of the fumes from the cigarettes, and this has its own ripple effects. These effects, whilst being indirect, trigger serious issues for non-smokers who are exposed to cigarette smoke. They go far beyond the smoker, posing serious health risks and harming others and society in ways that are often overlooked. It is necessary to state this, as very few Zikites think that they are safe as long as they do not partake in the early-morning and late-evening smoking. Most Zikites have a natural disinterest in this issue. In the words of a certain Zikite who is a resident of a room close to one of the kitchenettes on the ground floor of B block, “I don't have a problem with them as long as it does not affect me and I don't do it.”
Speaking to another Zikite who also pleaded anonymity, he stated that the issue of smoking is not new; neither is it peculiar to Zik Hall. In his words, "it is everywhere now. They kind of move in groups. They have their own kind of safe space, which is sad because these issues do not limit themselves to only the person smoking."
A call to action
In conclusion, smoking and drug use can derail a student's future on multiple levels, making prevention and early intervention essential. This therefore makes it necessary to call on the hall's management and executives to look into the matter to help prevent this issue from escalating even further. The campaign against drug abuse should not come only during the hall week; rather, it should be a continuous and consistent thing. The punitive measures should be consistently reiterated to discourage the perpetrators of the act.
