NTCC Warns Tobacco Bill 2025 Threatens Nigerian Health

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community (NTCC) raised concerns on Monday regarding the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025, stating it could jeopardize the health of Nigerians. During a press conference in Abuja, Oluwafemi Akinbode, the executive director of Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), urged President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to the bill.

Akinbode called for the National Assembly to recall the consolidated bill for a transparent, public health-led review. He emphasized the need for a robust, product-neutral framework for all tobacco and nicotine products, arguing that the proposed legislation weakens existing safeguards and opens the market to tobacco companies.

While acknowledging minor positive updates in the amendment, such as extending smoke-free zones around schools and health facilities, Akinbode insisted that modernizing the legal framework should not compromise public health by allowing loopholes for new nicotine products.