The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community (NTCC) Monday raised the alarm that the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill 2025 will compromise the public health of Nigerians.

The group called on President Bola Tinubu to withhold assent of the bill at a press conference in Abuja.

The executive director of Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Oluwafemi Akinbode, called on the National Assembly to immediately recall the consolidated bill and subject it to a transparent, public health- led review.

He further called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to publicly clarify its position and demand the recall of the bill if it was not properly consulted.

The conference was themed; “Why Nigeria must reject harmful amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act.”

Akinbode stated that Nigeria needs one strong and product-neutral framework for every tobacco and nicotine product.

He said having carefully reviewed the proposed legislation, the bill does not protect Nigerians, instead it weakens existing safeguards and creates a wide-open market for tobacco and nicotine companies to thrive at the expense of public health.

To this end, Akinbode demanded its immediate recall for a comprehensive and transparent review.

He stated: “We agree that our primary law, the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015, alongside its 2019 Regulations, requires updating to address evolving markets.

“However, modernising our legal framework must not mean rolling out a red carpet for new and emerging nicotine and tobacco products

“We cannot protect public health by carving out weak rules and loopholes for vapes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches,” he said.

Akinbode added that while the amendment bill contains minor positive updates, such as Clause 5 which extends smoke-free zones within 30 meters of schools and health facilities.