LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- In commemoration of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2026, a Nigerian public health advocate has raised concerns over the growing popularity of vaping products among young people, warning that aggressive marketing by tobacco companies could fuel a new wave of nicotine addiction in Nigeria.
As stakeholders in the tobacco industry push to promote e-cigarettes as safer alternatives to smoking, public health advocate at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Robert Egbe, warned that vaping products pose serious health risks, especially to young people.
In an opinion piece titled “World No Tobacco Day 2026: Unmasking the ‘World Vape Day’ Scam”, Egbe argued that campaigns promoting vaping products often downplay the dangers of nicotine addiction while presenting the devices as modern and less harmful options.
According to him, one example of strong regulatory action can be found in Brazil, where electronic smoking devices, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, have remained banned since 2009.
Although the law provided an opportunity for manufacturers to prove their products were safe, none of the tobacco companies succeeded in meeting the required scientific standards.
Brazil’s health regulator, ANVISA, had requested evidence supporting claims that vaping products reduce health risks or help smokers quit tobacco.
However, Egbe noted that available evidence instead pointed to significant public health concerns, particularly among young users.
His comments come as the tobacco industry promotes what it calls “World Vape Day,” a campaign that coincides with the globally recognized World No Tobacco Day observed every May 31.
Unlike the WHO-backed awareness day, Egbe said the vaping campaign lacks recognition from major international public health organizations.
“It is, at its core, a deadly marketing scam,” he stated.
The health advocate highlighted global data showing a sharp rise in vaping among young people.
He reported that more than 100 million people worldwide reportedly use vaping products, including an estimated 15 million children and adolescents.
Also, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that children are significantly more likely to vape than adults.
Egbe pointed to findings from a February report by CAPPA, which revealed that tobacco companies and their partners have introduced at least 573 new nicotine products into Nigeria’s retail and digital markets.
Many of these products, he stated, are packaged and flavored in ways designed to attract younger consumers.
The concerns are compounded by reports that some vendors have been selling cigarettes and vaping products to schoolchildren despite laws prohibiting sales to minors.
An investigation conducted in 2024 reportedly found such products being sold to students in parts of Abuja.
Therefore, Egbe warned that tobacco-related health problems continue to place a heavy burden on the nation.
He cited estimates showing that more than 25,000 children aged between 10 and 14 use tobacco daily, while nearly 30,000 Nigerians die from tobacco-related illnesses every year.
He also challenged claims linking Sweden’s declining smoking rates to the widespread use of nicotine pouches and similar products.
Referring to positions taken by Swedish health organizations, Egbe argued that the country’s success was largely driven by decades of strict tobacco-control measures, including higher taxes, advertising restrictions, age limits, smoke-free public spaces, and free smoking cessation support.
Egbe maintained that the evidence increasingly suggests that vaping products can serve as a gateway to cigarette smoking, particularly among young users.
He warned that many people who start with e-cigarettes eventually become dependent on nicotine and later transition to traditional tobacco products.
“What the industry conceals is that e-cigarettes and other so-called smoke-free nicotine devices are gateway drugs to smoking, and lung cancer risk,” Egbe stated.
Consequently, several countries have tightened restrictions on vaping products, with at least 47 nations reportedly banning their sale.
Public health experts continue to caution that nicotine exposure can harm brain development in children, adolescents, and young adults.
The health advocate further noted that governments around the world are increasingly holding tobacco companies accountable through legal action.
Reportedly, the Nigeria Federal Government and several states, including Lagos, Kano, Oyo, Ogun, and Gombe, are pursuing claims worth more than ₦10 trillion against British American Tobacco over allegations linked to the manufacture and marketing of tobacco products.
Marking this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” Egbe urged the public to look beyond attractive packaging, sweet flavors, celebrity endorsements, and social media promotions.
He maintained that the primary goal of tobacco and nicotine companies remains the recruitment of new users and the continuation of nicotine dependence.
Ultimately, Egbe’s warning highlights the growing calls from public health advocates around the world for stronger regulation, increased awareness, and greater protection for young people from the risks associated with tobacco and vaping products.
source: Voiceofnaija.ng
