Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised concerns about the growing and inappropriate relationships between government officials and the tobacco industry.
During a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, Executive Director Oluwafemi Akinbode called for stricter penalties for violations of smoking regulations to protect the health of all Nigerians.
Akinbode pointed out that despite the clear stipulations of Section 18 of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, which prohibits the tobacco industry from influencing public health policies, forming partnerships with public institutions, or engaging in youth initiatives under the guise of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), tobacco companies continue to engage with government officials.
He noted that the tobacco industry is openly collaborating with state governments, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), universities, and key government figures, using these relationships to improve their image and undermine public health initiatives.
“We urge the Nigerian government and public health authorities to strictly enforce Section 18 of the National Tobacco Control Act, ensuring that all interactions with the tobacco industry are transparent and regulatory in nature,” Akinbode stated. “By addressing these violations and implementing amendments that genuinely prioritize public health, Nigeria can align its tobacco control framework with global best practices, protect its citizens, and hold the tobacco industry accountable.”
While acknowledging recent efforts to review the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015, Akinbode emphasized that any revisions must prioritize public health, enhance regulatory oversight, and effectively close loopholes that allow the tobacco industry to exploit vulnerable populations in Nigeria.
He recalled that a public hearing was held last week in the House of Representatives to discuss two proposed bills aimed at amending the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015, known as House Bill (HB) 47 and HB 1151.
Akinbode stressed that while these bills present an opportunity to strengthen tobacco control in Nigeria, they also highlight gaps that need to be addressed to ensure that their proposed amendments align with the ultimate goal of protecting the well-being of all Nigerians over the profit-driven motives of the tobacco industry.
Senior Programme Manager for Policy and Research, Zikora Ibeh, pointed out that the bill seeking to impose stricter penalties for smoking regulation violations has a fundamental flaw in misrepresenting the title of the Principal Act and the referenced sections for amendments.
She stated, “Regarding HB 47, which aims to rectify certain defects in the NTCA 2015 and ensure its effective implementation while addressing gaps that the tobacco industry may exploit in Nigeria, we commend its intent but have identified several areas that require strengthening.
“By attempting to amend a ‘National Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act 2015,’ a law that does not exist, it raises concerns about legislative intent and procedural integrity. We strongly recommend that this Bill be withdrawn.”
Ibeh also emphasized that the proposed 30-meter restriction in Section 9 of HB 47, which addresses no-smoking zones around schools, daycare centers, and parks, is inadequate to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children.
