Anti-tobacco advocates have urged the federal government and the National Assembly to reinforce the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015 instead of diluting its provisions as discussions on proposed amendments continue.
The groups emphasized the need to close regulatory loopholes, safeguard public health, and prevent undue interference by the tobacco industry in shaping Nigeria’s health policies.
The advocates called on the Nigerian government to draw inspiration from the recent decisive actions taken by the Kenyan and United Kingdom (UK) governments to curb tobacco use.
The advocates noted that the title of one of the bills, was defective and detrimental to public health as it limits the scope and coverage of tobacco use to smoking only.
The groups acknowledged that while several sections of the proposed amendment bill were progressive, others were counterproductive and posed a significant risk to the younger generation.
They warned that these provisions could undermine years of efforts to discourage tobacco use among youths, particularly in the face of emerging products like e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and smokeless tobacco, which remain unregulated under the extant NTCA 2015.
The advocates, at a press briefing organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) in Abuja on Wednesday, identified several critical areas that require immediate attention in the proposed amendments, particularly concerning the regulation of emerging tobacco products.
They noted that these emerging products include e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine pouches, and smokeless tobacco, which remain unregulated under the current law.
The advocates raised concerns over the aggressive marketing by tobacco companies to young people, often accompanied by false claims of being safer alternatives.
Furthermore, they stressed that the ban on these products in advertising, promotion, and sponsorship should be made explicit in the new law to curb their widespread appeal.
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They also criticized the proposed 30-meter no-smoking buffer around schools, daycare centres, and parks as inadequate for protecting children and other vulnerable groups.
Citing a 2018 Senate resolution that recommended a 100-meter restriction, they demanded this distance be adopted to ensure better protection from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Also, the proposal to remove provisions banning single-stick cigarette sales drew criticism from the advocates, who argued that single-stick sales make tobacco products more affordable and accessible, especially to minors and low-income individuals, undermining public health efforts to reduce smoking prevalence.
They demand that the ban on single-stick sales be reinstated and its enforcement strengthened to deter violations.
The group stressed that the rising influence of digital platforms in marketing tobacco products has further highlighted the need for robust regulatory measures.
They called for explicit provisions to regulate online advertising and promotion of tobacco products, particularly as digital channels like social media often target minors.
They recommended penalties for platforms and vendors that facilitate the sale or promotion of these products online.
However, they expressed support for the proposed amendment to create sustainable funding for tobacco control through the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF), endorsing the provision to allocate 40% of taxes, levies, and excise duties collected from tobacco products to the TCF, noting that it aligns with the polluter-pays principle.
They also recommended extending the levies to cover emerging products like vapes and heated tobacco devices, adding that such measures would not only discourage consumption but also provide crucial resources for public health programs.
Rejecting claims that taxing the tobacco industry harms the economy, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, noted that tobacco companies continue to report significant profits despite regulatory measures.
He called for higher taxes on all tobacco products, including emerging alternatives, to reduce consumption and fund public health initiatives.
Oluwafemi urged public health authorities and legislators to resist collaborations with the tobacco industry.
Zikorah Ibeh of NTCA noted that the ongoing partnership between the Tobacco industry and the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC), Universities, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government is undermining public health.
Noting that the development is in breach of provisions of Section 18 of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015, Ibeh said the law prohibits the tobacco industry from influencing public health policies, forming partnerships with public institutions, or engaging in youth initiatives disguised as corporate social responsibilities (CSR) activities.
According to her, such partnership amounts to whitewashing the image of the tobacco industry while luring impressionable youths to patronize tobacco products injurious to their health and future.
She urged the government and public health authorities to enforce section 18 of the National Tobacco Control Act, ensuring that all interactions with the tobacco industry are transparent and strictly regulatory.
“By addressing these violations and adopting amendments that genuinely prioritize public health, Nigeria can align its tobacco control framework with global best practices, protect its citizens, and hold the tobacco industry accountable,” she noted.