Nigeria Tobacco Bill Sparks Fresh Alarm Over Vapes, Nicotine Pouches

Civil society organisations and tobacco-control advocates have called for the immediate recall of the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, warning that proposed changes could weaken existing safeguards and expose more young Nigerians to tobacco and nicotine products.

The coalition, comprising health advocates, public-interest groups and tobacco-control organisations, raised the alarm at a media briefing in Abuja after reviewing the consolidated version of the proposed legislation.

According to the groups, some provisions in the consolidated bill could create fresh opportunities for tobacco and nicotine companies to expand their businesses while undermining public-health protections.

The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, said there was a legitimate need to update the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and its 2019 Regulations to respond to emerging products such as vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

He, however, warned that updating the law must not create loopholes that could be exploited by tobacco and nicotine companies.

Oluwafemi particularly criticised provisions that could permit the advertising of non-combustible tobacco and nicotine products in adult publications, at points of sale and on online platforms.

He also raised concerns over provisions that could allow sponsorship of cultural, social and recreational events by companies dealing in such products.

Adult Publications Could Still Expose Children

Oluwafemi questioned the bill's definition of an "adult publication" as a publication with at least 50 per cent adult readership.

He argued that such a threshold was inadequate to protect children from exposure to tobacco and nicotine advertising.

According to him, the proposed provision could create an avenue through which tobacco marketing reaches young people despite the stated intention of restricting exposure to minors.

Health Advocates Reject Online Sales

Speaking on behalf of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Olawale Makanjuola also opposed provisions that would permit online sales and delivery of non-combustible tobacco products.

Makanjuola argued that age-verification mechanisms could be circumvented, making it difficult to prevent minors from accessing the products.

He further questioned Nigeria's capacity to effectively monitor websites, social media vendors, courier companies and delivery platforms that could become involved in the sale and distribution of tobacco and nicotine products.

The coalition also objected to provisions that would permit the display of non-combustible tobacco products behind retail counters.

It expressed concern over a proposed reduction in the minimum pack size for cigars from 20 to five, arguing that smaller quantities could reduce the financial barrier for young people experimenting with tobacco products.

Groups Raise Alarm Over Health Warnings

The coalition also criticised what it described as weaker health-warning requirements for emerging nicotine products.

It alleged that the bill would allow vape liquids to carry text-only health warnings covering no more than 30 per cent of the front of the package.

For nicotine pouches, the coalition said the proposed warning could cover no more than 10 per cent of the front packaging.

The groups argued that such provisions could weaken public-health messaging and make tobacco and nicotine products more attractive to consumers, particularly young people.

Who Introduced the Changes?

The coalition said some of the provisions it found objectionable were not contained in earlier versions of the bill presented during a public hearing on November 22, 2024.

It therefore demanded clarification on who introduced the changes and which public-health institutions reviewed and endorsed the consolidated version.

The groups called on the National Assembly to immediately recall the consolidated bill and subject it to a transparent review driven by public-health considerations.

They also demanded the publication of committee reports, voting records and stakeholder submissions that informed the drafting and consolidation of the bill.

Groups Ask Tinubu Not to Sign Bill

The coalition further called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to publicly disclose its position on the proposed amendments.

It also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to assent to the bill if it reaches his desk in its current form.

The groups maintained that Nigeria needs a strong and product-neutral tobacco-control framework capable of regulating both traditional tobacco products and newer nicotine products.

They insisted that advertising, sponsorship, sampling, retail display and remote sales of tobacco and nicotine products should remain prohibited in order to protect public health and prevent increased exposure among young Nigerians.