Foreign, local groups targeting Nigerian students with nicotine products — NTCA, CAPPA, Gatefield

Tobacco control advocates have raised alarm over the covert marketing of nicotine-based products to Nigerian students by local tobacco industry fronts and a Swedish group under the guise of “harm reduction education.”

In a joint statement issued in Lagos on Wednesday, the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and Gatefield accused the groups of trying to reintroduce nicotine addiction among the youth, warning that such actions threaten years of progress in public health.

The organisations noted that while over 40 countries have banned nicotine vapes and other similar products, the tobacco industry is using deceptive campaigns to promote them as “safer alternatives” in Nigeria.

Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the strategy as “a dangerous lie,” adding that, “there is no safe level of nicotine. What we are witnessing is a rebranding of tobacco marketing that targets young people.”

He cited World Health Organization (WHO) data showing that about 15 million children aged 13 to 15 are already addicted to e-cigarettes globally, warning that Nigeria could face a similar crisis if action is not taken.

Alliance Coordinator of NTCA, Olawale Makanjuola, urged the government to enforce existing tobacco control laws, including advertising bans, age verification, and plain packaging. He said: “We already have the tools to curb nicotine addiction. What is needed now is the political will to act.”

Similarly, Health Communications and Advocacy Specialist at Gatefield, Omei Bongos-Ikwue, stressed the need for stronger protection of young people against tobacco influence. “The industry is only rebranding itself to attract its most important market — the youth,” she said.

The groups urged the Federal Government to reject imported “harm reduction” models, warning that Nigeria must not become a dumping ground for nicotine products banned elsewhere.

They also called on parents, schools, and communities to remain vigilant, saying failure to act now could expose Nigeria to a new wave of public health crises.