The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has petitioned the National Assembly to halt further consideration or transmission of the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, calling for the consolidated Bill to be recalled and subjected to a fresh, transparent and evidence based public health review.
The Alliance said its demand followed concerns that several provisions of the proposed legislation could weaken existing safeguards under Nigeria’s tobacco control framework and create regulatory openings for emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
In its petition, the NTCA expressed particular concern over the introduction of “tobacco harm reduction objectives” and the proposed classification of electronic nicotine and non nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products and tobacco free oral nicotine pouches under the non combustible products framework.
The group also opposed provisions that would permit vaping for product sampling at points of sale, warning that such measures could encourage the promotion and normalisation of emerging nicotine products and potentially increase their appeal to young people.
According to the Alliance, proposed advertising and promotion provisions could also allow non combustible products to be promoted in adult publications, through point of sale materials and online adult advertising. It said the Bill would further permit sponsorship of cultural, social and recreational events targeted at persons aged 18 and above.
The NTCA questioned whether such provisions would provide adequate protection for children and young people, particularly given the possibility of indirect exposure to tobacco and nicotine marketing. It also faulted the proposed definition of an “adult publication”, which relies on a threshold of 50 per cent adult readership, arguing that the measure may not sufficiently prevent exposure among underage audiences.
The Alliance further raised concerns over provisions permitting the online and remote sale of non combustible products through mail, shipping and courier services. While acknowledging the importance of age verification, it argued that the Bill does not adequately address possible circumvention, third party vendors, weaknesses in online age verification systems or the capacity of regulators to monitor and enforce compliance across digital sales and delivery networks.
It warned that such gaps could make it easier for minors to obtain regulated tobacco and nicotine products.
The NTCA also questioned proposed changes to enforcement penalties and health warnings. It said the consolidated Bill appears to remove specified penalty provisions contained in Section 16 of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, raising concerns about the strength and enforceability of the proposed regulatory framework.
The Alliance equally expressed concern over proposed changes to health warning requirements, including reduced warning provisions for emerging products, exemptions for electronic cigarettes and heating devices from carrying health warnings, and a proposal limiting text warnings on nicotine pouch packaging to not more than 10 per cent of the front of the package.
The group argued that such changes could diminish the visibility and effectiveness of health warnings at the point where consumers make decisions about tobacco and nicotine products.
The NTCA is therefore calling on the National Assembly to halt further transmission of the Bill to the President and recall the consolidated version for detailed scrutiny. It also wants relevant committee reports, voting records and stakeholder submissions that informed the Bill to be made public.
The Alliance further urged the National Assembly to consult public health institutions, civil society organisations, technical experts and other affected stakeholders before taking further legislative action, stressing that any amendment to Nigeria’s tobacco control framework must prioritise public health, particularly the protection of children and young people from nicotine initiation and dependence.
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