In Nigeria, a coalition calls for strong regulation of vaping products

Parents and health professionals committed to protecting young people from tobacco are sounding the alarm over the sharp increase in the use of flavored vaping products among adolescents in Nigeria.[1]The Voices for Tobacco Control coalition is calling on the federal government to take urgent action against this worrying trend.

Mothers and health professionals call for action to combat youth vaping

At a press conference, Kenneth Kenas Anetor, a spokesperson for Voices for Tobacco Control, warned of the proliferation of vaping products that appeal to young people, such as e-cigarettes with strawberry, mint, or mango flavors. Despite their attractive appearance, these products are far from safe. They contain harmful substances like nicotine and formaldehyde, which increase the risk of heart and lung disease. " said Anetor[2].

He also said that during the World No Tobacco Day 2025 campaign, signed in early May in Abuja, the capital, more than 300 Nigerians signed a petition titled "Protect Nigerian Children from Vaping," addressed to the Federal Ministry of Health and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

The Day, whose theme is "Unmasking the Appeal," highlights how the tobacco and nicotine industries target young people, using attractive product designs, flavors, and marketing tactics that mask the dangers of addiction and dependence.[3].

Members of this coalition denounce the ease with which young people, sometimes as young as 10 to 14, access these products despite legislation prohibiting their sale to those under 18. According to their research, five million young Nigerians are already addicted to tobacco, and 25,000 of them start smoking every day.

Demands for stricter supervision

The health professionals in this coalition are calling for concrete and immediate measures: clear enforcement of the ban on the sale of flavored and non-flavored vaping products to minors, strict regulation of their marketing and distribution, and severe penalties for offenders.

Nimat Labaika, president of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN) in Kwara State, noted that tobacco companies deliberately target children to sustain their sales. She called on the FCCPC to establish clear and binding guidelines to end the sale of tobacco to minors.

Fumi Oseigbu, founder of the Bundies Care Initiative, stressed the need for FCCPC to not only develop policies but also enforce them. According to her, the authorities' inaction is putting an entire generation at risk.

Coalition members also highlighted the lack of comprehensive regulations governing the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes in Nigeria. Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a local NGO, noted that Nollywood, the Nigerian film industry, is still heavily targeted by the tobacco industry.[4] to promote its products through this means.

They call for the coordinated involvement of several key institutions, including the Ministries of Health, the National Council for Environmental Protection, and Parliament, to establish smoke-free public spaces and enact effective and enforced laws.

Implementation of the tobacco control provisions of the WHO's international treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, remains insufficient, and the WHO regularly calls on governments to take and implement measures in this area. In addition, legislation must be adapted to new nicotine products being placed on the market.

The WHO is calling on governments to take stronger action against tobacco products, including vaping, by regulating product packaging and design, strictly banning advertising, supporting smoking cessation, and increasing taxes to protect future generations from nicotine addiction and its health and financial consequences.

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[1]Anofi Dele, Tobacco: Mothers, advocates seek tougher laws on youth vaping, The Nation, published May 7, 2025, accessed May 7, 2025

[2]Tope SUNDAY, Stakeholders Express Concerns Over Rising Use Of E-Cigarettes Among Teenagers, The Whistler, published May 6, 2025, accessed May 7, 2025

[3]Guardian NG, Coalition flays FCCPC over teens' rising access to nicotine products, published May 7, 2025, accessed May 7, 2025

[4]Tobacco-free generation, Nigeria: Tobacco Still Too Present in Cinema According to an NGO, published August 26, 2024, accessed May 7, 2025

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