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| CAPPA's Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi. |
ABUJA, Nigeria — Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has asked the National Assembly to release comprehensive legislative records relating to the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, amid concerns that proposed changes could weaken Nigeria’s tobacco-control protections.
CAPPA submitted a Freedom of Information (FOI) request to the Clerk of the Senate on August 13, seeking documents that would help establish the legislative history of the Bill and clarify how provisions criticised by public health stakeholders became part of the current consolidated version.
The organisation said the request was intended to promote transparency and accountability in the legislative process, particularly following concerns raised by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Community, a coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations, public health advocates and tobacco-control stakeholders.
The coalition rejected the proposed amendments at a press briefing in Abuja on August 9 and called for the immediate recall of the consolidated Bill.
CAPPA seeks records of Bill’s passage
In its FOI request, CAPPA asked the National Assembly to provide certified copies of the Senate and House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings covering every stage of the Bill’s consideration.
The requested records include proceedings relating to the Bill’s:
- First reading;
- Second reading;
- Referral to committees;
- Consideration of committee reports;
- Third reading; and
- Passage.
CAPPA also requested the dates on which each legislative stage took place, the names and constituencies of sponsors and co-sponsors, records of any divisions or recorded votes, relevant committee reports, details of public hearings and stakeholder submissions.
The organisation further asked the National Assembly to clarify the Bill’s current status, including whether it has been transmitted to the President for assent.
CAPPA invoked Sections 1(1), 2(3)(f) and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and requested that the National Assembly provide the information within the statutory seven-day period. It said the records could be supplied electronically or as certified physical copies where applicable.
Public health groups question controversial provisions
The request comes against the backdrop of concerns over several provisions contained in the consolidated Bill.
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community has raised objections to proposed changes relating to non-combustible nicotine products, advertising and promotion, online sales, point-of-sale promotion, product sampling, packaging and penalties.
The coalition also questioned the legislative history of some of the provisions, arguing that controversial clauses were not contained in versions of the legislation presented during a public hearing on November 22, 2024.
The groups are seeking clarification on how those provisions subsequently appeared in the consolidated Bill and who introduced them.
They have also questioned which public health institutions reviewed the provisions that they consider concessions to tobacco and nicotine interests.
Concerns over tobacco and nicotine marketing
The tobacco-control community argued that any update to Nigeria’s tobacco-control legislation should strengthen protections against tobacco-related disease and nicotine addiction rather than weaken existing safeguards.
Particular concerns have been raised over provisions that, according to the coalition, could permit certain forms of promotion of non-combustible products through adult publications, point-of-sale materials and online platforms.
The groups also objected to provisions concerning sponsorship of cultural, social and recreational events, online sales, product sampling and the classification of heated tobacco products.
The coalition said Nigeria’s large youth population and the rapid spread of digital content make such exemptions a public health concern, arguing that marketing ostensibly directed at adults could nevertheless expose young people to tobacco and nicotine-related content.
Call for fresh review of the Bill
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community has consequently called for the immediate recall of the consolidated National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025 and a fresh, transparent review led by public health considerations.
CAPPA said its FOI request was focused on obtaining the legislative records necessary to understand the development and progression of the Bill.
“This request is made in the interest of promoting public health, accountability, and transparency,” CAPPA stated in its letter to the Clerk of the Senate.
The organisation said access to the legislative records would help establish the history of the Bill and provide greater clarity around the provisions that have triggered concerns among tobacco-control and public health stakeholders.
What is CAPPA asking the National Assembly to release?
CAPPA is seeking certified legislative records showing how the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) Bill, 2025, progressed through the Senate and House of Representatives. The request includes Votes and Proceedings, dates of legislative stages, sponsors and co-sponsors, voting records, committee reports, public hearing and stakeholder submissions, as well as the Bill’s current status.
Why are public health groups opposing parts of the Bill?
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Community says some proposed amendments could weaken safeguards under Nigeria’s tobacco-control framework and create regulatory openings for tobacco and nicotine companies. Its concerns include advertising, online sales, point-of-sale promotion, product sampling, packaging, penalties and the treatment of non-combustible and heated tobacco products.
What does the coalition want?
The coalition is calling for the consolidated Bill to be immediately recalled and subjected to a fresh, transparent and public health-led review.
Source: Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) press release dated August 25, 2026.
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