Health groups urge Tinubu to reject Tobacco Control Act Amendment Bill

A coalition of tobacco control and public health organisations has called on President Bola Tinubu to reject the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, describing it as a “dangerous” legislation that would roll back gains in Nigeria’s tobacco control framework.

The coalition, in a joint statement, said the bill would create a weaker regulatory environment for electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches and other non-combustible products, thereby exposing more young people to harm.

Signatories to the statement include the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Gatefield Impact, Youth Coalition Against Cancer, Nigerian Cancer Society, Call Off Cancer Initiative, Association of Resident Doctors, Abuja, A New Thing International Foundation, Oncology Nursing Society of Nigeria, Development Initiative for Society and Health, Centre for Youth Inclusion and Development, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, and Trailblazers Initiative.

The groups urged relevant committees of the National Assembly to withdraw the bill immediately, and appealed to President Tinubu to withhold assent if it is transmitted to him.

According to them, the proposed amendment would dismantle key safeguards in the existing Act by reopening avenues for advertising, promotion and sponsorship of tobacco and nicotine products. It would also permit online sales, courier deliveries and product displays at retail outlets.

The coalition faulted provisions that exclude heated tobacco products from the legal definition of tobacco products “despite containing tobacco,” warning that this contradicts the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which classifies heated tobacco products as tobacco products subject to comprehensive regulation.

They also criticised a clause allowing tobacco advertisements in publications where at least 50 per cent of readers are above 18 years. 

“Given Nigeria’s youthful population and widespread internet access among children and teenagers, such a threshold will still expose millions of minors to tobacco marketing,” the groups said.

The organisations further expressed concern over provisions permitting online purchases, home deliveries and promotional sampling of vaping products, noting that Nigeria lacks the enforcement capacity to regulate such channels effectively.

“The industry could advertise online, display and sample products in shops and deliver them to consumers’ homes. The assumption that age verification checks mandated in the bill will protect children and vulnerable people is laughable,” the statement read.

The coalition also accused the bill of weakening packaging and health warning requirements by allowing smaller cigar packs, reducing warnings for nicotine pouches, and exempting vaping and tobacco-heating devices from carrying health warnings.

It further opposed a provision allowing manufacturers to classify product information as trade secrets, saying this would limit public access to information and undermine transparency.

The groups also flagged a clause granting the Minister of Health broad discretionary powers to exempt non-combustible products from statutory rules on grounds of “public interest,” describing it as an avenue for regulatory capture and industry influence.

To ensure transparency, the coalition demanded the publication of all versions of the bill, committee reports, public hearing records and stakeholder submissions.

It called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to clarify its position on the amendment, and urged the Attorney-General of the Federation, national regulators and the National Tobacco Control Committee to intervene.

The organisations maintained that all tobacco and nicotine products should remain under one comprehensive regulatory framework that prohibits advertising, promotion, sponsorship, retail displays, promotional sampling and remote sales.

They urged health professionals, civil society organisations, development partners, the media and Nigerians to support efforts to preserve the integrity of the National Tobacco Control Act.