NTCA Launches Tobacco Industry Monitoring Report, Resource Hub
By Ojoma Akor
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has launched a tobacco industry monitoring report and the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub.
Speaking at the launch, NTCA Board Chairman Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi said Nigeria’s tobacco control progress faces a serious threat, adding that industry interests were increasingly entering government institutions and policy discussions.
“Tobacco control is under attack in Nigeria, and there is a serious attack. It is very orchestrated, well planned and well-funded,” he said.
Oluwafemi expressed concern over reported engagements at the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment on a proposed policy concerning new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, arguing that the existing national tobacco control framework and public health considerations should guide such policy discussions.
He also decried proposed amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, warning that some provisions could weaken existing safeguards designed to protect Nigerians, particularly children and young people, from tobacco exposure and industry influence.
According to him, Nigeria’s tobacco control framework resulted from nearly two decades of advocacy and legislative engagement, beginning in 2004 and culminating in the passage of the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015.
He warned that allowing the existing legal protections to be weakened would reverse years of progress in protecting Nigerians from tobacco-related harm.
“We cannot allow this government to completely roll back the gains we have made in public health over the last 20 years,” he said.
Tobacco promotion targets digital and entertainment spaces
The NTCA chairman also expressed concern over the increasing visibility of tobacco products in everyday spaces, particularly retail outlets where cigarettes are displayed alongside sweets and other products commonly purchased by children.
He noted that electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches were increasingly being promoted through online platforms, while smoking imagery was appearing in music videos, concert promotions and cultural events.
He warned that the use of entertainment and digital platforms could expose young people to tobacco and nicotine products by presenting them as fashionable lifestyle choices.
Oluwafemi called for stronger enforcement of existing restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, particularly in digital marketing, online sales and retail outlets.
He also urged the government to strengthen smoke-free regulations and prevent the glamourization of smoking in entertainment and cultural spaces.
CSOs demand stronger protection of tobacco control laws
The organizations called on the Federal Government to strengthen the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019.
They also urged the government to protect public health policymaking from tobacco industry interference, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and reject proposed legislative amendments that could weaken existing protections.
Oluwafemi specifically called on the National Assembly to scrutinize proposed amendments to the tobacco control law, particularly provisions that could reopen loopholes in restrictions on smoking in public places, tobacco advertising and the protection of children from exposure to tobacco products.
He referenced Article 5.3 of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), which requires parties to protect public health policies from the tobacco industry’s commercial and other vested interests.
He stressed the need for government institutions to establish mechanisms to report and address tobacco industry interference.
He also called for increased public education to help young people understand the health risks associated with cigarettes, electronic cigarettes and other emerging nicotine products.
NTCA launches resource hub to strengthen access to information
In addition to the monitoring report, NTCA unveiled the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub, an online platform designed to give journalists, civil society organizations, researchers, policymakers and members of the public easy access to tobacco control information and resources.
The platform is expected to serve as a central repository for research, reports, policy documents and other relevant materials to support media reporting, public education, advocacy and policy engagement.
In his opening remarks, NTCA Alliance Coordinator, Olawale Makanjoula, highlighted the importance of evidence-based monitoring in identifying emerging tobacco industry strategies and providing reliable information to strengthen tobacco control advocacy.
He said independent monitoring remained essential to 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, emphasized the need to protect public health policies from tobacco industry influence and ensure effective implementation of existing tobacco control laws.
He congratulated NTCA on launching the resource hub, noting its potential to strengthen 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, stressed the importance of continuous monitoring and public awareness to identify and expose tobacco industry activities that could undermine public health interventions.
