The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised alarms about the rapid increase of modern nicotine and tobacco items in Nigeria, cautioning that existing regulatory gaps are putting the youth at risk of addiction.
At the launch of CAPPA’s report, titled 'New Smoke Trap: New and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria,' held in Lagos, Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi explained that Nigeria is currently experiencing a significant rise in the availability of nicotine products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco.
Oluwafemi noted that these items are becoming increasingly common in areas frequented by young people, with marketing strategies designed to normalize them within youth cultures.
"The products we examined include e-cigarettes, commonly referred to as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products, which are now prominently displayed in supermarkets, nightlife venues, and heavily promoted on digital platforms accessible to young audiences, thereby embedding nicotine consumption into youth culture," he stated.
He elaborated that while Nigeria has made headway in tobacco regulation with the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations of 2019, these laws were mainly focused on traditional tobacco items.
"This framework still functions significantly regarding conventional products like cigarettes, but it was designed to tackle one specific method of nicotine delivery through the combustion of tobacco leaves," he added.
Oluwafemi pointed out that tobacco companies have adapted their tactics by rebranding nicotine products as safer, fashionable choices.
"With growing global regulatory scrutiny and increasing social disapproval of smoking, the tobacco sector has redirected its focus by diversifying product offerings and marketing addiction as innovation," he remarked.
He emphasized that despite claims of reduced harm, nicotine is still highly addictive and poses severe health risks, especially for the younger demographic.
"Nicotine is the primary substance involved, and its neurological effects on adolescents and young adults are well recognized," he noted, asserting that targeting youth is a deliberate marketing strategy essential for sustaining profits by acquiring new users.
During the report's presentation, based on CAPPA’s monitoring conducted in Lagos, Enugu, and the Federal Capital Territory from October to December 2025, Oluwafemi revealed an alarming find of 781 products related to nicotine and tobacco, with 573 categorized as new and emerging items.
He highlighted that e-cigarettes represented a staggering 522 of the items surveyed, showcasing their deep market infiltration across Nigeria.
Additionally, Oluwafemi raised concerns over synthetic nicotine products being marketed as tobacco-free, calling such assertions misleading.
"Scientific consensus indicates that synthetic nicotine is pharmacologically identical to nicotine derived from tobacco; its addiction potential is equal," he stated.
He cautioned that ineffective age verification on online platforms is exacerbating youth exposure, as many such products are marketed online with minimal restrictions.
Furthermore, he rejected claims that emerging nicotine products primarily function as aids for smoking cessation, advising policymakers to avoid adopting international models without considering Nigeria's unique situation.
"Our research clearly shows that these new products are not primarily catering to long-standing adult smokers seeking to quit; instead, they are being normalized aggressively among the youth," he said.
Oluwafemi urged the Nigerian government to enhance regulatory frameworks to encompass all nicotine products, thereby preventing new cycles of addiction in the youth.
"We clearly state that uncritical acceptance or lax regulation of these products would undermine Nigeria's hard-fought achievements in tobacco control and potentially establish a new trend of nicotine dependence," he warned.
He called for a united approach among regulatory bodies, advocating for stricter regulations on digital advertising, increased taxation on emerging nicotine products, and more robust public education campaigns.
Oluwafemi underscored the media's crucial role in informing the public about the dangers associated with new nicotine products, urging journalists to maintain scrutiny over industry narratives.
"We invite you to engage critically with the findings of this report as Nigeria faces a new chapter in its quest to safeguard its population, particularly its youth, from the evolving threats of nicotine addiction," he concluded.
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