Tobacco Firms Using CSR, Digital Platforms to Influence Public Institutions- Report

By Ojoma Akor

A new report by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) found that tobacco companies are increasingly using corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, partnerships with public institutions, and digital platforms to advance their interests and undermine tobacco control efforts in Nigeria.

The report documented 42 verified incidents of tobacco industry activities between January and August 2026 across the Federal Capital Territory and 10 states, raising concerns about the growing influence of tobacco companies on public institutions, policy processes, and spaces frequented by young people.

Titled How Tobacco Industry Undermines Public Health Rules in Nigeria, the report found that tobacco industry activities extended beyond the direct promotion of tobacco products to include social development initiatives, engagements with government institutions, online marketing, and the use of entertainment and cultural platforms.

NTCA presented the findings at the report launch, alongside the unveiling of the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub. This online platform provides journalists, researchers, civil society organizations, policymakers, and the public with access to tobacco control information and resources.

According to the report, 15 of the 42 documented incidents, representing 35.7 percent, involved CSR activities and engagements with public institutions, while the remaining 27 incidents, representing 64.3 percent, involved tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS).

These included online marketing, retail product displays, and smoking imagery in music videos, concert promotions, and cultural events.

The incidents were recorded across Abia, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Rivers states, as well as the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking at the launch, NTCA Board Chairman, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that tobacco industry activities were increasingly being presented through initiatives associated with youth empowerment, agricultural development, gender equality, employment and rural development.

He said such initiatives could give tobacco companies opportunities to build relationships with public institutions, gain public recognition, and influence policy discussions under the guise of contributing to national development.

Oluwafemi specifically raised concerns about memoranda of understanding between tobacco companies and government agencies, as well as reported efforts to establish partnerships with universities.

He called for an end to public-sector partnerships and endorsements involving the tobacco industry, insisting that government institutions must protect public health policies from commercial interests.

“Tobacco control is under attack in Nigeria, and there is a serious attack. It is very orchestrated, well planned and well funded,” he said.

He expressed concern over the government’s handling of tobacco control policies, including reported discussions at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment about a proposed policy on new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products.

According to him, policy decisions concerning tobacco and nicotine products should be guided by the country’s existing tobacco control framework and public health considerations.

Oluwafemi further criticized proposed amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, warning that some provisions could weaken existing protections against tobacco industry interference and exposure to tobacco products.

He said the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare was not doing enough to protect public health interests amid these developments.

Digital platforms increasingly used to promote tobacco products

The report also highlighted the growing use of digital platforms and entertainment channels to promote tobacco and nicotine products, particularly electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

Oluwafemi warned that the increasing visibility of these products in online spaces and popular culture could make them attractive to young people by presenting them as fashionable lifestyle products.

He also drew attention to cigarette displays in retail outlets, where tobacco products are placed alongside sweets and other items commonly purchased by children.

According to him, smoking imagery in music videos, concert promotions and cultural events represents another emerging concern, as the industry seeks to associate tobacco use with entertainment and popular culture.

He called for stronger enforcement of existing restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, particularly in digital spaces, retail outlets and entertainment platforms.

He also urged the government to strengthen smoke-free regulations and prevent the glamourization of smoking in public events and cultural activities.

CSOs warn against reversal of tobacco control gains

Oluwafemi said Nigeria must not allow tobacco companies’ activities to undermine the progress achieved through years of advocacy and legislative engagement.

He recalled that efforts to establish a national tobacco control framework began with legislative engagements in 2004 and culminated in the passage of the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015.

He warned that weakening the existing law would reverse nearly two decades of efforts to protect Nigerians from the harmful effects of tobacco.

“We cannot allow this government to completely roll back the gains we have made in public health over the last 20 years,” he said.

He urged the National Assembly to reject proposed amendments that could weaken existing tobacco control provisions, particularly those relating to advertising, public smoking and the protection of children from tobacco exposure.

He also called on the government to strengthen safeguards against tobacco industry interference in public policymaking, in line with Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

Oluwafemi stressed the need for government institutions to establish mechanisms to monitor and report tobacco industry interference and ensure accountability.

Media urged to expose tobacco industry activities

The NTCA chairman called on journalists and media organizations to intensify investigative reporting on tobacco industry activities, particularly alleged partnerships with public institutions, CSR initiatives, and digital marketing strategies.

He said independent media monitoring was essential to expose industry practices, inform the public, and hold government institutions accountable.

“We will continue to watch. We will continue to expose all industry activities that compromise citizens’ health. We will make the call and expect the government to do the needful,” he said.

He urged journalists to investigate activities that could influence tobacco control policies and expose attempts to weaken existing public health protections.

Resource hub to strengthen access to tobacco control information

NTCA Alliance Coordinator, Olawale Makanjoula, said evidence-based monitoring was essential to identifying emerging tobacco industry strategies and providing reliable information to strengthen tobacco control advocacy.

He noted that independent monitoring remained important for exposing industry practices, promoting public accountability and ensuring that tobacco control policies were implemented in the interest of public health.

The In-Country Coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Barr. Michael Olaniyan, also emphasized the importance of protecting public health policies from tobacco industry influence and ensuring effective implementation of existing tobacco control laws.

He congratulated NTCA on the launch of the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub, noting that the platform would improve access to information and support the work of journalists, researchers, advocates and other stakeholders.

Also speaking, the Executive Director of Development Initiative for Society Health, Mr. John Egla, emphasized the importance of continuous monitoring and public awareness in identifying and exposing tobacco industry activities that could undermine public health interventions.

The National Tobacco Control Resource Hub is expected to serve as a central repository for tobacco control reports, research, policy documents, and other relevant materials to support media reporting, public education, and policy engagement.

Through the report and the resource hub, NTCA said it hopes to strengthen independent monitoring, improve access to evidence, and equip stakeholders with the information needed to identify tobacco industry interference and advance tobacco control efforts in Nigeria.