Civil society organisations (CSOs) advocating for stronger tobacco control measures have urged Nigeria’s delegation to the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 11) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) which commenced on Monday in Geneva, Switzerland to uphold public health interests and resist interference from the tobacco industry.
In a joint statement this Sunday, 16/11/25 the groups raised concerns over what they described as renewed global efforts by the tobacco industry to infiltrate COP 11 negotiations through proxies and lobbyists.
They warned that these tactics aim to influence delegates to support the introduction and legitimisation of nicotine-based and other novel products, including e-cigarettes, under the guise of harm reduction.
The organisations including Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Gatefield, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), Centre for Youth Inclusion and Development, and other public health advocates, cautioned Nigeria’s delegation against selling out the nation’s public health to commercial interests.
They further called on the government and its representatives to reject any form of tobacco industry-linked funding, partnerships, or influence, declaring that Nigerians will be watching closely as the negotiations commence.
The CSOs also reminded the delegation of their obligations under Sections 25–28, 33–34, and 38(2) of the National Tobacco Control Act, which prohibit any financial or non-financial engagement between government officials and the tobacco industry or its proxies.
They also noted that Nigeria, as a Party to the WHO FCTC, is duty-bound to comply with Article 5.3, which mandates the protection of public health policies from industry interference.
The statement emphasised the global threat posed by transnational tobacco corporations seeking to expand their markets across Africa.
“Tobacco kills over seven million people annually. Now the industry wants to hook a new generation on nicotine using sleek devices, deceptive marketing, and manipulation of regulatory officials,” the groups said.
They described novel nicotine products as the “new faces of an old deadly business,” warning that they are being promoted as less harmful alternatives despite posing significant public health risks.
“The same companies responsible for decades of death and addiction now want to rebrand themselves as part of the solution. It is deception at its peak, and Nigeria must not fall for it,” the CSOs added.
They stressed that introducing such products into Nigeria’s regulatory framework would reverse the public health gains achieved through the National Tobacco Control Act and related policies, noting that industry interference remains the biggest obstacle to effective tobacco control globally.
The groups urged the delegation to stand with the international public health community and support measures that advance a tobacco-free future.
COP 11, scheduled for November 17–22, will bring together Parties to the Convention to deliberate on measures to curb nicotine addiction and strengthen public health protection. This will be followed by the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products from November 24–26, also in Geneva, where Parties will consider new action to combat illicit tobacco trade.
