Groups Demand Recall of Tobacco Control Bill 2025

Civil society organizations, health advocates, and public-interest groups have urged the immediate recall of the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, warning that its provisions could weaken safeguards and expose Nigerian youths to nicotine products. The coalition, known as the Nigeria Tobacco Control Community, expressed their concerns during an event in Abuja, where Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), read a statement.

The groups support updating the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 but insist that any amendments must strengthen public health protections. They criticized proposed changes allowing advertising of non-combustible products in adult publications and online, arguing that the definition of adult publications could still expose children to tobacco advertising.

They also opposed online sales and questioned the effectiveness of age-verification systems. Furthermore, the coalition rejected the classification of heated tobacco products as non-combustible and raised concerns over reduced health warnings for novel nicotine products.

They warned that discretionary exemptions by the Minister could lead to lobbying and regulatory capture.