By Elvira Jordan
A coalition of civil society organizations (CSOs) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold his assent to the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, warning that the proposed legislation threatens to dismantle Nigeria’s public health safeguards.
The joint call was issued in a statement signed by Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI); Okeke Anya, Executive Director of the Initiative for Community Development and Advancement of Social Orientation (ICODASO); and Peter Unekwu, Executive Director of the Cedars Refuge Foundation.
The groups expressed deep concern that the proposed amendments could reverse gains made since the enactment of the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015 and its operational regulations in 2019. They noted that Nigeria’s current framework aligns with the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)—a standard achieved after nearly a decade of continuous advocacy.
Alarm Over Relaxed Advertising and Marketing Rules
The coalition highlighted provisions in the amendment bill that would ease restrictions on the promotion and sale of non-combustible and alternative nicotine products.
Key concerns raised by the groups include:
- Digital and Retail Exposure: Allowing online marketing, point-of-sale displays, remote sales, and corporate sponsorships for novel nicotine products.
- Youth Targeting: High risk of exposing young Nigerians to nicotine dependence through aggressive digital and retail marketing channels.
- Industry “Harm Reduction” Claims: Reclassifying alternative products—such as e-cigarettes, vapes, and nicotine pouches—to exempt them from core tobacco definitions under the guise of harm reduction.
The CSOs cited recent research indicating that non-combustible nicotine alternatives frequently sustain addiction rather than aid cessation, creating new pathways for youth initiation.
Call for Public Scrutiny
Rather than signing the bill into law, the coalition urged President Tinubu to return the proposed amendments to the National Assembly for rigorous public hearings and broad stakeholder consultation.
They emphasized that weakening tobacco control safeguards poses severe long-term economic and social risks, as tobacco-related illnesses continue to strain families and the national healthcare system. The Federal Government and lawmakers, they argued, must prioritize public interest and evidence-based policy over commercial interests.
