Health
Group warns against tobacco industry still targeting Nigerian youths despite control laws
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has raised concerns about the growing tactics of the tobacco industry targeting Nigerian youths through social media, entertainment, and lifestyle marketing.
In a statement on Sunday signed by its communications officer, Emmanuel Onwuka, to mark the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, the alliance warned that despite years of tobacco control campaigns and existing laws, Nigerian adolescents remain vulnerable to nicotine addiction due to weak enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act.
World No Tobacco Day is observed globally on 31 May to raise awareness about the health risks associated with tobacco use, and the theme for this year is “Unmasking the appeal – countering nicotine and tobacco addiction.”
According to the alliance, the tobacco industry continues to exploit “the aspirations, emotions, and fears of young people” through marketing strategies that make smoking, vaping, and shisha appear attractive.
“Today, Nigerian youths are constantly exposed to images of smoking, shisha, and vaping across music videos, fashion trends, and social media platforms, often featuring appealing flavours and attractive branding,” the statement said.
The Alliance added that behind the “glamorous facade” lies “a harsh reality of addiction, disease, and suffering within our communities.”
Nigeria’s growing tobacco burden
Nigeria’s tobacco control advocates have repeatedly warned that weak enforcement of existing laws, aggressive industry marketing, and the rise of new nicotine products are worsening the country’s tobacco burden, particularly among young people and women.
Although Nigeria enacted the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015 and later introduced implementing regulations in 2019, there have been several concerns that tobacco companies continue to exploit loopholes in advertising regulations through entertainment, social media promotion, lifestyle branding, and indirect sponsorships.
Experts have also raised concerns over increasing exposure to tobacco imagery in films, music videos, and online content consumed by adolescents.
In July 2025, the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) announced that Nigeria had become the first African country to introduce regulations aimed at limiting the portrayal of tobacco rituals and smoking scenes in movies and entertainment productions. The move followed growing evidence that tobacco depictions in media influence smoking behaviour among young audiences.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) also warned that tobacco companies are shifting attention towards youths through flavoured nicotine products, vaping devices, and nicotine pouches designed to appear fashionable and less harmful.
The global agency raised concerns over the aggressive marketing of nicotine pouches to young people globally, noting that such products are often promoted through colourful packaging, influencer culture, and social media campaigns.
A recent study also found that tobacco companies increasingly use gender-focused advertising strategies that associate smoking with beauty, independence, and social status. Experts warned that such messaging could reverse progress made in reducing tobacco use among women.
Nigeria’s tobacco burden extends beyond public health concerns to economic consequences. According to WHO estimates, tobacco-related diseases kill more than seven million people globally every year, while countries like Nigeria continue to face rising healthcare costs linked to cancer, cardiovascular diseases, stroke, and chronic respiratory illnesses caused by smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke.
In 2025, the Nigerian government imposed a N110 million fine on British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) over multiple breaches of the National Tobacco Control Act, its regulations, and other consumer protection laws.
Despite these measures, experts maintain that industry influence, weak monitoring systems, and poor compliance enforcement continue to undermine tobacco control efforts across the country.
Concerns over adolescent smoking
The alliance cited recent studies showing that nearly one in five Nigerian schoolchildren aged between 13 and 15 years have experimented with at least one tobacco product, while about one in 10 are current smokers.
It described the figures as “deeply concerning,” especially after years of public awareness campaigns on the dangers of tobacco use.
The group stated that the statistics indicate that the tobacco industry influence remains strong among young people, while enforcement gaps continue to allow “subtle forms of promotion and recruitment.”
It specifically called for stricter monitoring of digital platforms and entertainment channels where young people are increasingly exposed to tobacco-related content.
“Such enforcement must extend to digital platforms, social media, and entertainment channels where young people are increasingly targeted,” it stated.
Economic and health burden
Beyond concerns over youth exposure, the alliance also highlighted the economic and health implications of tobacco consumption in Nigeria.
It said tobacco-related illnesses cost the country more than N211 billion annually through healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
According to the statement, these losses divert resources that could otherwise support “food security, improve educational systems, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure.”
The group also referenced data from the Global Burden of Disease study, which estimated that nearly 30,000 deaths recorded in Nigeria in 2021 were linked directly to tobacco-related diseases.
It noted that tobacco use contributes significantly to non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and lung cancer.
“Each of these deaths represents not only a personal tragedy for families but also a major setback for national productivity and development,” the statement said.
It added that many households face financial strain due to treatment costs for cancer, heart disease and lung-related illnesses, while secondhand smoke continues to pose risks to children and pregnant women.
Call for stronger enforcement
The alliance urged the Nigerian government to strengthen implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act and close existing loopholes in the 2015 law and its 2019 regulations.
READ ALSO: World smoking rates decline, but e-cigarette use raises fresh concerns — WHO
It also called for a “complete prohibition on all forms of tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship.”
It noted that Nigeria must demonstrate a stronger political commitment to fully implement its obligations under the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
It appealed to parents, lawmakers, stakeholders and young people to work together against nicotine addiction and what it described as “commercial exploitation.”
“World No Tobacco Day 2026 should be a renewed call to urgency for Nigeria. While the tobacco industry continues to promote appealing images to protect its profits, the reality remains clear. Tobacco has no place in a healthy, productive, and prosperous future for the nation,” the statement added.
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, says 9.5 million children in 57 supported countries received no routine vaccine in 2025, despite gains in global immunisation.
The figure, described as the number of “zero-dose” children, was contained in Gavi’s 2025 Annual Progress Report, which reviewed the alliance’s 2021-2025 strategic period.
Gavi defines zero-dose children as infants who have not received the first dose of a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis-containing vaccine by the end of their first year.
Number falls from 2021 peak
According to the report, the number of zero-dose children in 2025 was 600,000 lower than in 2024 and 25 per cent lower than the peak recorded in 2021 following disruptions to routine immunisation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, the figure remained four per cent above the 2019 baseline, partly because of continued growth in the number of children being born.
Gavi said children living in fragile, conflict-affected and humanitarian settings remain among those most likely to be missed by immunisation programmes.
Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of zero-dose children. UNICEF estimated that about 2.2 million Nigerian children had never received a routine vaccine in 2025, the highest number in Africa.
Nigeria records gains in targeted areas
The report highlighted Nigeria, Ethiopia and Pakistan among countries where emerging data showed stronger immunisation coverage gains in sub-national areas that received greater Gavi focus and investment during the 2021-2025 period.
Gavi said the findings underscored the value of targeted, equity-focused investments in reaching communities that are being missed by routine immunisation.
The report also identified Nigeria among countries covered by Gavi’s Zero-Dose Learning Hubs, which examined what works and what does not in identifying and reaching zero-dose and under-immunised children.
The findings from Nigeria, Bangladesh, Mali and Uganda highlighted several issues, including gender-related barriers to immunisation.
73m children immunised in 2025
Despite the number of zero-dose children, Gavi said more than 73 million children were immunised through routine programmes with its support in 2025.
More than 351 million children were immunised during the 2021-2025 strategic period, “exceeding Gavi’s target of 300 million children.”
“By end 2025, Gavi-supported countries had immunised more than 1.3 billion unique children with Gavi support since 2000, exceeding our Investment Opportunity 2021-2025 commitment of more than 1.1 billion children immunised by 2025,” it noted.
Gavi said vaccination averted more than 2.2 million future deaths in 2025, bringing the total number of future deaths averted through its supported vaccination programmes to more than 7.8 million during the 2021-2025 period.
Generated economic benefits
The report said immunisation programmes generated more than $30 billion in economic benefits for Gavi-supported countries in 2025, the highest amount recorded in a single year.
The benefits were calculated from the costs of illness averted, including medical and associated costs, caretaker wages and productivity losses resulting from disability or death.
Gavi said the programmes generated more than $104 billion in economic benefits between 2021 and 2025 and more than $308 billion between 2000 and 2025.
Countries also contributed a record $301 million towards the co-financing of Gavi-supported vaccines in 2025, an 18 per cent increase from 2024.
About 80 per cent of the contribution came from domestic resources, while “approximately 20 per cent from low-interest loans from the World Bank.”
Gavi said countries had contributed a total of $2.2 billion towards vaccine co-financing since the policy was introduced in 2008.
More children
For its 2026 to 2030 strategic period, Gavi said it aims to protect another 500 million children through immunisation and avert between eight million and nine million future deaths.
READ ALSO:New TB vaccines could save 7.3m lives by 2050 – Gavi
The Alliance also targets more than $100 billion in economic benefits during the period. Gavi said it would place greater emphasis on reaching zero-dose and under-immunised children while strengthening the sustainability of national immunisation programmes.
In her comments, Gavi Chief Executive Officer, Sania Nishtar, said the results showed that immunisation generates benefits beyond preventing disease. “However, when it comes to immunisation we know that the return on investment extends far beyond health to supporting sustainable, inclusive economic growth,” Ms Nishtar said.
WHO Director-General, Tedros Ghebreyesus, also said immunisation delivers massive gains in lives saved and diseases prevented, but also in terms of economic benefits.
“Countries understand that the cost of failing to vaccinate is far too great, while the benefits extend across families, communities, economies and future generations,” Mr Ghebreyesus was quoted to have said.
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A military cardiologist, Life Ajemba, has warned that hypertension, prolonged stress, and inadequate sleep could increase the risk of cardiovascular disease among serving military personnel and veterans.
Mr Ajemba, a major-general, said hypertension remains one of the most common cardiovascular conditions among serving personnel and military retirees.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja, he urged military personnel and veterans to prioritise their heart health through regular medical checks, physical exercise, healthy diets and adequate rest.
He cited studies which showed that hypertension accounted for 15.31 per cent of cases treated among mainly military retirees between 2015 and 2020.
He also referenced another study which found a hypertension prevalence of 34.3 per cent among military personnel.
He noted that major risk factors included alcohol consumption, tobacco smoking, family history of cardiovascular disease and being overweight.
According to him, the demanding nature of military service could also increase cardiovascular risks due to physical stress, psychological trauma, irregular schedules and inadequate sleep.
“Military duties affect heart health through a combination of extreme physical stress, psychological trauma and environmental exposures that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said.
The military cardiologist explained that prolonged stress could increase the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, leading to increased heart rate and blood pressure.
He added that sleep deprivation, anxiety and other psychological pressures could further increase the risk of hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart attack and stroke.
Mr Ajemba stressed the importance of regular medical screening among military personnel, saying early detection could help identify silent conditions such as high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels and elevated blood sugar.
He said routine medical checks could include blood pressure and heart rate monitoring, blood tests, lipid profiles, electrocardiograms (ECGs), chest X-rays, and echocardiography where necessary.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: How Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension puts mother, baby at risk
“Early detection ensures that soldiers receive treatment while remaining fit for duty, preventing medical evacuation and safeguarding their long-term health,” he said.
He also encouraged military personnel to maintain regular physical exercise, saying fitness helped reduce blood pressure, improve heart efficiency and increase resistance to operational fatigue.
Mr Ajemba, however, advised personnel to combine physical fitness with healthy eating, adequate rest and avoidance of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
He said maintaining a healthy lifestyle could help military personnel reduce cardiovascular risks and remain fit both during active service and after retirement.
(NAN)
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