The Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) has urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to strengthen tobacco control measures and curb rising nicotine addiction, especially among young Nigerians.
The foundation said urgent action was needed to protect children and adolescents from aggressive marketing by tobacco and nicotine companies promoting emerging products.
Olukemi Odukoya, chairman of tobacco at NHF, made the call on Monday in Lagos during a news conference to commemorate the 2026 World No Tobacco Day.
The event, organised by NHF in collaboration with the United Nations Association of Nigeria, was held at the foundation’s secretariat in Ikoyi.
The theme of the 2026 celebration is “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction”.
Ms Odukoya, whose address was read by the NHF communication advisor, Abiola Awe, said the tobacco industry had continued to devise new methods of attracting young people through innovative nicotine products.
She said the industry was increasingly targeting children and adolescents with products designed to appear harmless, fashionable and technologically advanced.
According to her, stronger government intervention is required to prevent a new generation of Nigerians from becoming addicted to nicotine.
“This campaign, championed by the World Health Organisation, will expose how the tobacco and nicotine industry continues to reinvent and repackage its products to hook a new generation, particularly children and adolescents, while evading stronger tobacco control measures worldwide.
“Despite decades of progress in reducing tobacco use, the tobacco industry’s tactics remain relentless. Companies are aggressively marketing new and emerging nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches and synthetic nicotine devices, often disguised as innovation, to sustain addiction and recruit new users.
“These strategies threaten to reverse hard-won gains in tobacco control and public health. The use of shisha is also an emerging public health concern in Nigeria despite the progress made through the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015,” she said.
The NHF chairman said weak regulation of shisha products had created significant gaps in taxation, packaging requirements and health warnings.
She noted that the development persisted despite provisions of the Tobacco Control Act prohibiting smoking in public places, including restaurants, cafeterias and similar facilities.
Ms Odukoya expressed concern over growing global youth tobacco consumption, warning that Nigeria must not ignore emerging trends.
The chairman said: “Startling new data reveal the scale of the crisis. At least 40 million children aged 13 to 15 globally report current use of at least one tobacco product. Of these, 20 million smoke cigarettes and 10 million use smokeless tobacco.
“At least 15 million adolescents aged 13 to 15 years are already using e-cigarettes, and in countries with available data, children are on average nine times more likely than adults to vape.
“The purpose of this year’s campaign is to raise awareness of the tobacco and nicotine industry’s evolving strategies and advocate stronger policy action to protect young people through bans on flavours, advertising, promotion and attractive product designs.”
She called on the federal government to reinforce implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act and close existing policy loopholes.
According to her, collaboration with the entertainment industry, particularly Nollywood actors and producers, is necessary to discourage the portrayal and promotion of tobacco use on screen.
“Nigerian Heart Foundation calls for action to reinforce the implementation of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act, including working with Nollywood stars to dissuade the use of tobacco and other addictive products on the screen.
“World No Tobacco Day highlights WHO’s continued commitment to exposing industry tactics and advancing policies that protect young people and communities from nicotine addiction.
“The campaign calls on governments, partners and civil society to strengthen regulation, close policy gaps and safeguard future generations from the harms of tobacco and nicotine products,” she said.
Ms Odukoya commended the media for supporting tobacco control advocacy and promoting healthier lifestyles among Nigerians.
She reiterated the NHF’s commitment to reducing risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases and improving public health outcomes across the country.
Also speaking, Oluremi Olutimo, president of the United Nations Association of Nigeria, emphasised the need for strict government control, education, awareness, advocacy, and parental guidance for their children.
“The attractiveness of tobacco and nicotine products has been deliberately crafted.
“We can prevent addiction before it starts by exposing these techniques and supporting greater public health measures, as well as helping current users get the aid they need to quit.
“As we commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2026, let us renew our resolve to safeguard children, adolescents, and future generations from the dangers of tobacco,” Mr Olutimo said.
He stressed the need to strengthen and enforce tobacco control regulations and encourage tobacco- and nicotine-free environments in schools and communities.
Mr Olutimo encouraged parents and caregivers to discuss the dangers of nicotine addiction with young people.
The Nigerian Heart Foundation is a non-governmental organisation and an affiliate of the World Heart Federation in Geneva, dedicated to promoting cardiovascular health and healthy living among Nigerians.
The organisation was among the stakeholders who championed advocacy efforts that led to the enactment of the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015.
(NAN)
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