Health experts and civil society organisations have raised concerns over what they described as aggressive tactics by tobacco and nicotine companies to lure Nigerian youths into addiction through flavoured products, influencer marketing and social media promotions.

The concerns were raised yesterday in Lagos during separate press briefings organised to commemorate the 2026 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD), themed “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction.”

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), at a briefing in Lagos, called on the Federal Government, policymakers, regulators, parents, educators, media practitioners and communities to recognise what it described as the evolving tactics of the tobacco industry.

According to CAPPA, the industry is steadily reinventing how it attracts and retains consumers, particularly young people, through products such as vapes or electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

“As public awareness on the dangers of smoking increases and tobacco control measures become stronger across different climes, the industry has shifted its focus towards products such as vapes or electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches. These products are heavily marketed as cleaner, safer, and more socially acceptable than cigarettes, despite growing concerns that they may expose users to health risks and increase the likelihood of nicotine addiction, especially among young people,” the group stated.

CAPPA’s recent report titled, New Smoke Trap: New and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria, documented the rapid spread of these products across Nigerian retail and digital spaces, including supermarkets, nightlife venues, online platforms and informal markets.

The organisation warned that Nigeria was no longer facing a future threat but a growing nicotine crisis already unfolding across the country.

Speaking on gains recorded in anti-tobacco advocacy, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, noted that the warning inscription on cigarette packs, “Tobacco smokers are liable to die young,” has now been replaced with graphic pictorial warnings showing the health effects of smoking.

He also disclosed that CAPPA had engaged the Ogun State Ministry of Arts and Culture over the alleged glamourising of cigarette smoking by a celebrity during the Ojude Oba festival in Ogun State.

“While Nigeria’s present tax levels leave significant room for improvement, the decision to include these products within the tax framework deserves recognition because taxation remains one of the most effective measures for reducing consumption and preventing addiction,” CAPPA stated.

The organisation, however, argued that taxation alone could not effectively address tobacco control because products could still become fashionable, accessible and socially admired despite higher taxes.

At another briefing organised by the Nigerian Heart Foundation (NHF) in collaboration with the United Nations Association of Nigeria (UNAN), stakeholders called for stricter enforcement of tobacco control laws and stronger protection for children and adolescents.

President of UNAN, Prof Oluremi Olutimo, said tobacco companies were deliberately repackaging nicotine products to appear modern, attractive and harmless to young people.

According to him, products such as e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, shisha and synthetic nicotine devices are increasingly marketed with sweet flavours, colourful packaging and celebrity endorsements to recruit a new generation of smokers.

He warned that nicotine addiction among teenagers could lead to long-term cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, adding that studies showed youths who use e-cigarettes are more likely to transition to conventional cigarette smoking later in life.

Chairman of the 2026 World No Tobacco Day Committee and Chairman, Education and Capacity Building of UNAN, Mr Ephraim Abutu, also raised concerns over the growing trend of “balloon parties,” where teenagers allegedly inhale substances through balloons.

According to him, many parents remain unaware of emerging trends exposing children and adolescents to addiction and substance abuse.