A coalition of tobacco control and public health organisations has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to assent to the National Tobacco Control Act Amendment Bill 2025, warning that the proposed legislation could weaken existing safeguards and expose more Nigerians, particularly young people, to tobacco and nicotine products.
The group made the demand on Monday in Abuja during a press conference organised under the Nigeria Tobacco Control Community. The coalition also urged the National Assembly to immediately recall the consolidated bill and subject it to a transparent review driven primarily by public health concerns.
Speaking at the event, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Oluwafemi Akinbode, said Nigeria’s existing tobacco control framework requires updating to address the emergence of products such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
However, he argued that modernising the law should not result in weaker regulations or create opportunities for tobacco and nicotine companies to expand their market at the expense of public health.
The coalition expressed particular concern about provisions in the proposed amendment that could change how non combustible tobacco and nicotine products are classified and regulated.
According to the groups, one of the controversial provisions defines heated tobacco products as non combustible products while excluding non combustible products from the legal definition of tobacco products. They argued that such a classification could create a regulatory loophole for products that still contain tobacco and nicotine.
The organisations also raised concerns over provisions that could permit advertising, promotion and sponsorship of some tobacco and nicotine products through adult publications, points of sale, online platforms and certain events.
They argued that allowing such advertising could make it easier for young people to encounter promotional material for products such as vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, particularly through digital platforms.
The coalition further criticised provisions that could allow online sales, remote orders and courier delivery of some non combustible nicotine products. It questioned whether Nigeria currently has sufficient enforcement mechanisms to prevent underage persons from accessing such products through online channels.
Another major concern raised by the groups was the proposed treatment of health warnings and penalties. They claimed that some provisions in the bill could reduce the strength of existing safeguards and make enforcement more difficult.
The coalition acknowledged that the proposed legislation contains some provisions it considers positive, including an extension of smoke free zones to areas within 30 metres of schools and health facilities and the inclusion of additional government institutions in the National Tobacco Control Committee.
However, the groups maintained that these provisions could not compensate for what they described as more serious weaknesses contained elsewhere in the bill.
The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids also expressed concern over the proposed legislation, with its in country coordinator, Michael Olaniyan, alleging that public recommendations were not adequately reflected in the consolidated bill.
Olaniyan further claimed that the proposed legislation reduces the size of some health warnings, removes certain penalties for non compliance and gives the Minister of Health broad discretion over the regulation of some products. He also raised concerns over provisions that could permit online sales of tobacco products. (ThisDay Live)
The controversy comes as Nigeria faces the challenge of regulating newer nicotine products that have become increasingly available alongside conventional tobacco products. Public health advocates have argued that emerging products should not be allowed to operate under weaker rules simply because they are marketed or classified differently from traditional cigarettes.
The coalition is therefore demanding that all tobacco and nicotine products remain under a strong and consistent regulatory framework, with strict restrictions on advertising, promotion, sponsorship, retail displays and remote sales.
The organisations have also called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to publicly clarify its position on the bill and, if necessary, demand its recall. They further urged relevant government agencies, health professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to participate in efforts to ensure that Nigeria’s tobacco control policies prioritise the health and wellbeing of citizens.
For President Tinubu, the issue could present another important policy decision as the bill moves through the legislative process. The coalition has made its position clear, urging the President to withhold assent if the amendment reaches his desk in its current form.
The debate is expected to continue as stakeholders examine the potential impact of the proposed amendments on tobacco regulation, public health, youth exposure to nicotine products and Nigeria’s broader efforts to control tobacco related risks.
At the centre of the controversy is the question of whether Nigeria’s tobacco control laws should be strengthened to address emerging products or amended in a manner that critics fear could create wider commercial opportunities for the tobacco and nicotine industry.
