In Nigeria, health organizations criticize a weakened anti-smoking bill

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community, which brings together more than 100 civil society organizations and health actors, has opposed the 2025 draft bill amending the national tobacco control law.[1]. At a press conference in Abuja, the coalition called on the Nigerian Parliament to immediately withdraw the bill so that it could undergo a transparent public review focused on public health. According to its representatives, some of the proposed amendments could weaken existing protections against tobacco and nicotine products, particularly regarding advertising, distance selling, and health warnings. The coalition urged the authorities to maintain a strict regulatory framework consistent with Nigeria's international commitments under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). It specifically highlighted Article 5.3 of the treaty, which addresses the protection of public health policies from interference by the tobacco industry.

Concerns about new nicotine products

The bill aims to amend the 2015 law and its 2019 implementing regulations. The coalition believes that several provisions concerning e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches could create regulatory exceptions. In particular, it argues that the introduction of "tobacco harm reduction" objectives could encourage the promotion of new nicotine products presented as less harmful. It specifically points to heated tobacco, classified as a tobacco product by the WHO but which would have a separate status under the new legislation. The organizations also emphasize that not all new products on the market are risk-free, especially for young people, and that their long-term effects remain largely unknown.

The organizations also criticized the plan to give the Minister of Health broad powers to exempt non-combustible products from the provisions of the proposed law for undefined reasons of "public interest".

A weakening of regulations favorable to advertising and online sales, and a reduction in the effectiveness of health warnings.

The coalition also criticizes the provisions allowing the advertising of certain nicotine products in publications aimed at adults, at points of sale, online, or through the sponsorship of cultural, social, and recreational events intended for "adults." It believes the definition of publications aimed at adults is vague and could expose minors to promotional messages, particularly on social media, given that, according to UNICEF, more than 60% of Nigerians are under 30 years old.

The organizations also contest the proposed relaxation of internet and mail-order sales, even with age verification systems. These systems can easily be circumvented.

Similarly, the purely textual nature (instead of an image accompanied by text) and the reduced size of health warnings on certain nicotine products directly affect the effectiveness of prevention messages. According to the coalition, the bill would limit warnings for e-cigarettes to simple text covering no more than 30 square meters of the packaging, while nicotine pouches would carry warnings covering 10 square meters of the main packaging surface. By comparison, traditional cigarette packs currently feature graphic health warnings covering 60 square meters of the main packaging surface. Heated tobacco products might even be exempt from this requirement for a large graphic warning.

Other weakenings of the bill correlated with strong interference from the tobacco industry

The coalition also expressed reservations about the removal of certain sanctions related to sales to minors and non-compliance with packaging rules.

Furthermore, the coalition criticized the provisions relating to safety dossiers for new products. Under paragraph 18 of Annex III, manufacturers would be responsible for internally preparing, maintaining, and approving their own safety dossiers. The associations questioned the appropriateness of allowing tobacco manufacturers to create and maintain evidence regarding the safety of products from which they are likely to derive substantial commercial benefits. They also opposed the provisions requiring the Minister of Health to protect this information, arguing that public health policy should be based on independently verifiable evidence rather than undisclosed industry-produced documents. The coalition described this arrangement as fundamentally incompatible with a sense of political responsibility and warned that such discretionary powers could create opportunities for lobbying and regulatory capture.[2].

Experts also claim that several of these provisions were not included in the versions initially presented during a public hearing in November 2024., pointing to the potential influence of tobacco companies in the changes that have taken place.

A call for the government to take decisive action in support of public health

The organizations acknowledge certain positive aspects, including the expansion of smoke-free zones to 30 meters around schools and hospitals and the proposed inclusion of the police and the Ministry of Youth on the Tobacco Control Committee. However, they believe these measures cannot overshadow the seriousness of the other provisions and the resulting danger to public health. The coalition demands the publication of all reports and contributions related to the draft legislation and calls on the Federal Ministry of Health to clarify its position. It urges President Bola Tinubu not to promulgate the text if it is submitted to him in its current form.

Michael Olaniyan, national coordinator of the anti-smoking NGO Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, stated that the concept of harm reduction should not be used to weaken anti-smoking measures:« Risk reduction is not risk elimination. What we want is to eliminate, not reduce »,” Mr. Olaniyan stated. The coalition called for the adoption of a comprehensive anti-smoking law covering all tobacco and nicotine products, insisting that advertising, promotion, sponsorship, sample distribution, and online sales must remain prohibited. It urged Nigerians, particularly parents, healthcare professionals, youth, and the media, to stand up against what it described as attempts to weaken public health protections.

Olawale Makanjuola, coordinator of the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), warned that the proposed amendments could worsen the health and economic burden of smoking in Nigeria. He noted that more than 20,000 Nigerians die each year from smoking-related illnesses, while approximately 201 billion naira (128 million euros) is spent on smoking-related healthcare costs.[3]. He stated that weakening tobacco control measures could wipe out years of progress and jeopardize Nigeria's position as a model for tobacco control in Africa. Nigeria is indeed a leading country in regulating tobacco promotion in Nollywood and other entertainment platforms. The country largely influences other African countries through its experience. He concluded by urging the Federal Ministry of Health and Welfare to become more involved in tobacco control and to listen to public health advocates., in accordance with the commitments made by the country upon becoming a Party to the WHO FCTC.

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[1]John Alechenu, Health groups reject Tobacco Control Act amendment bill, Vanguard, published August 10, 2026, accessed August 11, 2026

[2]John Akubo, Tobacco Bill: CAPPA, 100 CSOs Accuse NASS of Opening Backdoor for Industry, The Guardian, published on August 10, 2026, accessed on August 11, 2026

[3]Civil society organizations oppose proposed tobacco law amendment, The Peoples Gazette, published August 10, 2026, accessed August 11, 2026

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