Dispute over Nigerian tobacco control legislation

Tobacco control organizations and monitoring groups in Nigeria are opposing proposed amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act 2015. Critics argue that the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 would dismantle existing protections by creating a permissive regulatory regime for non-combustible products, such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches.

A coalition of advocacy groups has issued joint statements urging the National Assembly to recall the bill and calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withhold assent. These groups, including the Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), the Initiative for Community Development and Advancement of Social Orientation (ICODASO), and the Cedars Refuge Foundation, described the amendments as a “rude shock.” They warn that the bill could relax restrictions on advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, potentially permitting online marketing, point-of-sale displays, and remote sales.

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) has specifically warned that “Tobacco Harm Reduction” provisions may be an industry tactic to market addictive nicotine products under the guise of smoking cessation. Critics contend that the bill’s definitions effectively remove heated tobacco products from the status of tobacco products, which would undermine previous public health gains and contradict the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Advocates emphasize that Nigeria’s adult smoking prevalence has dropped to approximately 5–6% and urge the government to maintain proven control measures, such as graphic health warnings and smoke-free public spaces.