Health advocates and civil society organisations have kicked against the proposed amendment to Nigeria’s tobacco control law, warning that the legislation could make it easier for young Nigerians to access and encounter nicotine products.
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community, a coalition of public health and advocacy groups, called for the withdrawal of the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 during a press event in Abuja on Monday.
The groups argued that although there is a need to update the existing tobacco law to cover newer products, the proposed amendment could weaken restrictions on the marketing and distribution of products such as vapes, nicotine pouches and heated tobacco devices.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the coalition had reviewed the proposed legislation and was concerned about its potential impact on public health.
“We have carefully reviewed the consolidated National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025. Our conclusion is that this Bill does not protect Nigerians. It instead weakens existing safeguards and creates a wide-open market for tobacco and nicotine companies to thrive at the expense of public health”, the groups said.
Among the provisions opposed by the coalition are those relating to advertising and promotion of non-combustible nicotine products. The groups said the proposed changes could permit advertising in adult publications, at retail outlets and across online platforms.
They also raised concerns about allowing tobacco and nicotine companies to sponsor social, cultural and recreational events, saying such activities could increase the visibility of the products among young people.
The coalition also questioned the proposal to regard a publication as an adult publication if at least half of its readers are adults.
It argued that the threshold could still leave a large number of underage readers exposed to tobacco and nicotine marketing.
Online sales also came under criticism, with the groups warning that allowing remote purchases and delivery of nicotine products could make it difficult to effectively enforce age restrictions.
They said regulators would face challenges tracking online sellers, social media accounts, courier operators and delivery riders involved in the distribution of such products.
The coalition further rejected the proposed treatment of heated tobacco products as non-combustible products, stressing that the products continue to contain tobacco and nicotine.
“Heating it instead of burning it does not remove its toxicity or addictiveness,” the coalition said.
The groups also expressed reservations about proposals to reduce health warnings on some emerging nicotine products, saying consumers could receive less information about the dangers associated with their use.
They equally opposed a clause that could allow the Minister to exempt certain non-combustible products from parts of the law on the basis of “public interest”.
According to the coalition, the lack of a clear definition of the term could create room for undue influence and lobbying.
Olawale Makanjuola, who spoke for the Nigeria Tobacco Alliance, called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to take action against the bill in its current form.
“Some organisations have invested in tobacco control. Public health should be of importance to Nigeria. As members of the Tobacco Alliance, we are firmly against this bill. This is not an investment; this is trying to ruin the future of Nigerians”, he said.
The coalition also demanded greater transparency in the legislative process, questioning how some provisions appeared in the latest version of the bill despite not being included in earlier drafts presented at a public hearing in November 2024.
It asked for the publication of relevant committee reports, voting records and submissions made by stakeholders during the bill’s consideration.
The groups acknowledged some provisions they considered positive, including the proposed expansion of smoke-free areas around schools and health facilities, but maintained that these measures did not address their broader concerns.
They therefore appealed to the National Assembly to withdraw the bill for a transparent review and urged the Federal Ministry of Health to make its position known.
The coalition also called on President Bola Tinubu not to assent to the bill if it is passed in its current form.
The debate comes as Nigeria faces growing regulatory concerns over e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, which have emerged alongside traditional tobacco products.
The World Health Organisation has warned that nicotine is highly addictive and that exposure during adolescence can interfere with brain development.
