By Bilkis Abdulraheem Lawal
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 recall of the consolidated Bill for a transparent, evidence-based and public health-led review.
The Alliance said its petition followed concerns among tobacco-control and public health stakeholders that some provisions of the proposed legislation could weaken existing safeguards and create regulatory openings for tobacco and nicotine products.
In a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Emmanuel Onwuka, the NTCA expressed particular concern over the introduction of “tobacco harm reduction objectives” and provisions relating to electronic nicotine and non-nicotine delivery systems, heated tobacco products and tobacco-free oral nicotine pouch products.
The Alliance also faulted 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, particularly among young people.
According to the NTCA, proposed provisions allowing the advertising and promotion of non-combustible products in adult publications, at points of sale and through online platforms could expose children and young people to tobacco and nicotine marketing.
It also raised concerns about the proposed 50 per cent adult readership threshold for defining an “adult publication”, arguing that the measure may not sufficiently protect underage audiences.
The group further expressed concern over provisions that could allow online and remote sales of non-combustible products through mail, shipping and courier services, warning that weaknesses in age-verification systems and enforcement could make regulated tobacco and nicotine products more accessible to minors.
The NTCA also questioned proposed changes to enforcement penalties and health warnings, saying the amendments could weaken the enforceability of Nigeria’s tobacco control framework and reduce the visibility of health warnings on emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
The Alliance is therefore demanding that the National Assembly halt the Bill’s transmission to the President, recall the consolidated version for detailed scrutiny and publish relevant committee reports, voting records and stakeholder submissions that informed its development.
It also called for broader consultations involving public health institutions, technical experts, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before further legislative action is taken.
The NTCA said any fresh review must prioritise the protection of children and young people, prevention of nicotine dependence and the preservation of Nigeria’s public health obligations.
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