Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration is committed to the fight against tobacco smoking in public places and would not relent until the battle was won, its Minister, Aliyu Modibbo Umar, has reassured.

Umar gave the assurance on Thursday while declaring open an Africa Regional Strategy Workshop on Tobacco Control organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation, Framework Convention Alliance in Abuja.

The minister said the battle against tobacco smoking in public places was just beginning and therefore called on relevant authorities to impose stringent tax regime on tobacco products to make smoking an expensive venture.

Umar believed that when tobacco is made very expensive, smokers would be discouraged and forced to drop the bad habit that affects their health.

"The FCT Administration is already championing the modification of the law prohibiting smoking in public places in the country through the National Assembly in order to make it dynamic, vibrant and up to date," he said.

He added that FCT administration was determined to make Abuja a livable city, noting that there must be a shift and change from tobacco smoking considering its health and social implications to human existence.

According to him, "we are committed to bequeath better legacy for the future generation of Nigerians and Abuja must remain a pace setter, being the first city in the West African sub-region to declare smoking in public places illegal."