What if Nigeria’s next major public health emergency is not lurking in hospitals or spreading through infectious diseases, but sitting on supermarket shelves, hidden in school bags, displayed in nightlife venues, and promoted through smartphones?
This is the warning from Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), which says Nigeria is already facing a growing nicotine crisis driven by the rapid spread of new and emerging tobacco products such as vapes, electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches.
Marking the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, CAPPA cautioned that while cigarette smoking remains a significant health concern, tobacco companies have quietly shifted strategies, introducing products designed to appear cleaner, safer, and more socially acceptable, particularly to young people.
According to the organisation, the danger is no longer a future possibility but a present reality unfolding across retail outlets, online platforms, entertainment centres, and social media channels.
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