Vapes, pouches, heated tobacco—Nigeria’s youth are being targeted online!
A new report by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) reveals alarming exposure of Nigerian youths to e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products. CAPPA Executive Director Oluwafemi Akinbode warns that outdated tobacco laws leave new nicotine products largely unregulated, allowing aggressive online marketing and easy youth access.
The study, “New Smoke Trap: New and Emerging Nicotine and Tobacco Products, Youth Exposure and Policy Gaps in Nigeria”, found 781 nicotine products in the market, 573 of which are emerging products—mostly e-cigarettes. Many are marketed as “tobacco-free” with synthetic nicotine, which is just as addictive as traditional nicotine.
Akinbode called for unified regulation, inclusion in excise tax frameworks, and stricter online age checks to prevent youth addiction. Experts warn that early exposure can impair brain development, increase addiction risk, and normalize nicotine use in everyday youth culture.
Prof. Lekan Ayo-Yusuf of ATIM stressed that Nigeria must act now to close policy gaps before nicotine dependence becomes widespread.
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