The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has launched a new industry monitoring report documenting how tobacco companies use corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, partnerships with public institutions, digital marketing and entertainment platforms to promote their interests and undermine tobacco control efforts in Nigeria.
The Alliance also unveiled the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub, a new online platform designed to provide journalists, civil society organisations, policymakers, researchers and members of the public with easy access to tobacco control information, research and other relevant resources.
Titled How Tobacco Industry Undermines Public Health Rules in Nigeria, the report documents 42 verified incidents of tobacco industry activities recorded between January and August 2026 across the Federal Capital Territory and ten states: Abia, Edo, Kaduna, Katsina, Lagos, Nasarawa, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo and Rivers.
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Speaking at the launch, NTCA Board Chairman, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, stressed the importance of sustained monitoring in exposing tobacco industry activities and their potential implications for public health.
He noted that the documented activities included tobacco industry-linked agricultural and youth empowerment programmes, engagements with government institutions, and initiatives presented under themes such as gender equality, employment and rural development.
Oluwafemi also drew attention to the growing visibility of tobacco products in everyday spaces, including cigarettes displayed alongside sweets and other products commonly purchased by children. He highlighted online promotions of electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches, as well as smoking imagery featured in music videos, concert promotions and cultural events.
In his opening remarks, NTCA Alliance Coordinator, Olawale Makanjoula, highlighted the importance of evidence-based monitoring in identifying emerging tobacco industry strategies and providing the information needed to strengthen tobacco control advocacy.
He noted that independent monitoring remains essential to exposing industry practices, promoting public accountability and ensuring that tobacco control policies are implemented in the interest of public health.
The In-Country Coordinator of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Barr. Michael Olaniyan, emphasised the need to protect public health policies from tobacco industry influence and ensure the effective implementation of existing tobacco control laws.
He also congratulated NTCA on the launch of the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub, noting its potential to strengthen access to information and support the work of journalists, researchers, advocates and other stakeholders. The platform is expected to serve as a central repository for resources that can inform media reporting, research, public education and policy engagement.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Director of Development Initiative for Society Health, Mr. John Egla, emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring and public awareness in identifying and exposing tobacco industry activities that could undermine public health efforts.
According to the report, 15 of the 42 documented incidents, representing 35.7 per cent, involved corporate social responsibility activities and engagements with public institutions. The remaining 27 incidents, representing 64.3 per cent, involved tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (TAPS), including online marketing, retail product displays and smoking imagery in entertainment and cultural events.
The findings highlight how tobacco industry activities extend beyond the direct promotion of tobacco products, reaching into social development initiatives, public institutions, digital spaces and popular culture.
The report recommends stronger enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019. It also calls for stronger safeguards against tobacco industry influence in public institutions, closer monitoring of retail outlets and digital marketing activities, and measures to address the promotion and glamourisation of tobacco use in entertainment and cultural spaces.
Through the report and the launch of the National Tobacco Control Resource Hub, NTCA is seeking to strengthen access to evidence, support independent monitoring and equip stakeholders with the information needed to identify tobacco industry interference and advance tobacco control in Nigeria.
