Civil society and public health organisations have urged President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent to a proposed amendment to Nigeria’s tobacco control law, warning that some provisions could weaken existing safeguards against tobacco and nicotine addiction, particularly among young people.
The groups made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, titled “Why Nigeria Must Reject Harmful Amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act.”
The event was organised by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), in collaboration with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and other tobacco control organisations.
Beyond asking Mr Tinubu to withhold assent, the coalition called on the National Assembly to recall the consolidated National Tobacco Control (Amendment) Bill, 2025, and subject it to what it described as a transparent, public health-led review.
The demand followed the Senate’s approval of the bill after its earlier passage by the House of Representatives, bringing the proposed legislation closer to presidential consideration.
