The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has expressed deep concern over the increasing influence of tobacco and nicotine products on Nigerian youths, urging the government to enforce stricter measures to safeguard the younger generation. In a statement released to mark World No Tobacco Day 2026, the alliance highlighted the theme “Unmasking the appeal: Countering nicotine and tobacco addiction,” which focuses on exposing the marketing strategies used by tobacco companies to target young people.
Marketing Tactics Targeting Youths
The NTCA noted that Nigerian youths are frequently exposed to tobacco imagery through music videos, fashion trends, and social media platforms. Attractive flavors and branding make products like cigarettes, shisha, and vaping appear appealing, exploiting the aspirations and emotions of young individuals. The alliance emphasized that these tactics are designed to recruit new users, particularly among adolescents.
WHO Warning on Tobacco and Nicotine
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, issued a stark warning in his message for World No Tobacco Day: “There is no such thing as safe tobacco use or a safe level of non-therapeutic nicotine exposure. All tobacco and nicotine products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, waterpipe tobacco, heated tobacco products, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and other emerging products, are harmful and addictive.”
Alarming Statistics Among Nigerian Youth
According to the NTCA, recent studies reveal that nearly one in five schoolchildren aged 13 to 15 years has tried at least one tobacco product, and approximately one in 10 currently smokes. These figures are alarming despite years of public health campaigns. The alliance attributed this to weak enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, which has left adolescents vulnerable to tobacco promotion and recruitment.
Economic and Health Burden
The NTCA highlighted the severe economic consequences of tobacco use, estimating that tobacco-related illnesses cost Nigeria over N211 billion annually in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Citing data from the Global Burden of Disease Study, the alliance reported that nearly 30,000 deaths in Nigeria in 2021 were directly linked to tobacco-related diseases. Tobacco consumption significantly contributes to non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancer.
The impact extends beyond health, pushing many families into financial hardship due to treatment costs. Additionally, exposure to second-hand smoke increases health risks for children and pregnant women, compounding the public health challenge.
Calls for Action
The NTCA called on parents, lawmakers, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to collaborate in protecting young people from nicotine addiction and tobacco industry influence. It urged the Federal Government to fully implement commitments under international tobacco control agreements and enforce restrictions on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship, particularly on digital platforms and social media.
The alliance stressed that World No Tobacco Day should serve as a renewed call to action, emphasizing that urgent measures are necessary to safeguard Nigerian youths, protect public health, and reduce the social and economic burden of tobacco use.
