Tobacco Amendment Bill is unhealthy for Nigeria, ATIM, CAPPA warns NASS

The Africa Centre for Tobacco Industry Monitoring and Policy Research (ATIM) has urged the National Assembly to urgently reconsider the proposed amendments to Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act 2015, saying the so-called “Tobacco Harm Reduction” provisions sought to be inserted in the Act endanger the country’s hard-fought tobacco control gains.

In a statement acknowledged by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), over the weekend,  ATIM backed the Nigerian tobacco control community’s rejection of the proposed changes, warning that the proposals could weaken the country’s tobacco control framework and create loopholes for the tobacco industry to addict Nigerians, especially the youth, with nicotine and other “so-called non-combustible products.”

The organisation said the development was particularly concerning given Nigeria’s progress in reducing smoking prevalence and its obligations under the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
“Nigeria should be strengthening the measures that have helped reduce smoking, not creating new policy openings that could undermine those gains,” ATIM said.

According to the organisation, the amendment process was initially presented as an effort to strengthen implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, correct identified weaknesses and close loopholes affecting emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

However, ATIM noted that the harmonised Bill subsequently considered by the House of Representatives introduced “Tobacco Harm Reduction” among the objectives of the legislation and created separate provisions for non-combustible products, including electronic nicotine products and nicotine pouches.

It said the significant shift requires greater transparency and public scrutiny.
According to tobacco control activists, Tobacco Harm Reduction is a discredited tactic through which the industry lobbies to openly market nicotine products, such as vapes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), smokeless nicotine pouches and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), by claiming that these addictive products will help tobacco users quit.

ATIM noted that adult smoking prevalence in Nigeria is now estimated at around 5–6 per cent, representing substantial progress compared with previous decades.

Rather than risk reversing this progress, it urged the Nigerian government to prioritise proven tobacco control measures, including comprehensive smoke-free environments, stronger taxation and health warnings, prohibition of tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, improved cessation support, measures against illicit trade and stronger implementation of Article 5.3 of the WHO FCTC.
The organisation also warned that emerging nicotine products could provide a new pathway to nicotine addiction, particularly among young people.