The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has urged the Nigerian government and relevant stakeholders to take urgent action against the growing appeal of nicotine and tobacco products among young people warning that the country is facing an expanding nicotine addiction crisis fueled by new and emerging products such as vapes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.
Marking the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, at an event in Lagos on Tuesday themed “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” CAPPA said tobacco companies are increasingly targeting young consumers through attractive product designs, flavours and aggressive marketing strategies that present nicotine products as safer and more socially acceptable alternatives to traditional cigarettes.
The organisation’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi noted that while public awareness of the dangers of smoking has grown and tobacco control measures have strengthened globally, the tobacco industry has adapted by promoting newer nicotine products that appeal to younger demographics.
According to CAPPA, findings from its recent report, New Smoke Trap: New and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria, revealed widespread availability of nicotine products across retail outlets, nightlife venues, online platforms and informal markets in Lagos, Enugu and the Federal Capital Territory.
The report documented 781 nicotine and tobacco-related products, of which 573 were classified as new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products.
CAPPA expressed concern over the design and marketing of these products, describing them as brightly coloured, sweet-flavoured and technologically appealing items that often resemble everyday objects such as cosmetics, pens, toys and electronic gadgets, making them less likely to attract scrutiny from parents and educators.
The organisation said flavours such as mango, strawberry, bubble gum, vanilla, mint and candy play a significant role in attracting young users by masking the harshness of nicotine and encouraging experimentation that can lead to addiction.
It also cited testimonies from young people who reportedly began using nicotine products after being drawn by appealing flavours and lifestyle-oriented promotional messages before developing regular consumption habits.
CAPPA endorsed recent recommendations by the World Health Organization calling on governments to prohibit flavours and additives, including menthol, in nicotine and tobacco products, describing the measure as critical for protecting young people from addiction.
While commending Nigeria for including vapes and nicotine pouches within its excise tax regime, the organisation argued that taxation alone would not sufficiently address the problem.
“Taxation remains one of the most effective measures for reducing consumption and preventing addiction, but products can still become fashionable, accessible and socially acceptable despite being taxed,” the statement said.
CAPPA therefore called for stronger regulatory measures, including stricter controls on marketing, bans on flavoured nicotine products, restrictions on youth-oriented packaging, tighter enforcement of sales prohibitions to minors, and the extension of public-use restrictions to all emerging nicotine products.
The organisation also raised concerns about what it described as the growing cultural normalisation of tobacco use, particularly through public displays of cigar smoking at high-profile social and cultural events.
It specifically referenced the increasing popularity of cigar-smoking imagery associated with the annual Ojude Oba festival, warning that social media portrayals linking tobacco use with prestige, wealth, masculinity and social status could undermine public health gains.
According to CAPPA, widespread circulation of images showing prominent individuals smoking cigars at cultural celebrations has contributed to a perception among some young Nigerians that tobacco use is aspirational and fashionable.
The organisation stressed that public smoking remains prohibited under Nigeria’s tobacco control laws and warned that cultural festivals should not become platforms for indirect tobacco promotion.
CAPPA further urged journalists and media practitioners to avoid portraying nicotine and tobacco products as lifestyle trends and instead focus on their health implications, regulatory concerns and impact on young people.
The group called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, the National Broadcasting Commission, the National Tobacco Control Committee, state governments and other regulatory agencies to strengthen enforcement of existing tobacco control laws.
It also advocated increased funding for the Tobacco Control Fund to support public education campaigns, enforcement activities, research and monitoring efforts aimed at combating nicotine addiction.
CAPPA said decisive action is needed to protect current and future generations from the health risks associated with tobacco use and emerging nicotine products.
