Nigeria's Fight Against Big Tobacco: A Slipping Grip on Public Health
Nigeria's battle to shield its public health policies from the tobacco industry's grasp has taken a concerning turn. According to the 2025 Nigeria Tobacco Industry Interference (TII) Index, the country has dropped to 62nd place globally, a decline from its previous ranking. This ranking reveals a disturbing trend in the struggle against tobacco industry manipulation.
The report, released by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), highlights a worsening situation. Nigeria's score has slipped from 60 in 2023 to 62 in 2025, ranking it 54th out of 100 countries assessed. But here's where it gets controversial: this decline indicates a potential failure to protect public health from the tobacco industry's influence.
The findings, covering April 2023 to March 2025, are part of a global effort to uphold Article 5.3 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC). This article emphasizes the inherent conflict between tobacco industry interests and public health.
CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, revealed a disturbing tactic employed by tobacco companies. He stated, "Tobacco companies, despite their core business causing addiction, disease, and death, manage to infiltrate Nigeria's policy spaces strategically and persistently." This infiltration is a significant concern, as it allows the industry to influence policies that should protect public health.
And this is the part most people miss: tobacco companies use so-called corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives as a smokescreen. Borehole donations, scholarships, and reforestation projects are not acts of goodwill but calculated moves to manipulate public perception. Oluwafemi argues that these CSR activities are a whitewashing tactic, concealing the industry's true nature.
CAPPA Assistant Executive Director Zikora Ibeh provided further insight into the assessment criteria. The Index evaluated seven critical areas, such as policymaking participation, CSR, benefits to the industry, unnecessary interactions, transparency, conflict of interest, and preventive measures. Nigeria's declining score suggests a systemic issue where industry influence persists despite regulations.
The report exposes the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation's continued partnership with state ministries and local governments, defying national laws. This partnership undermines governance and public health efforts. Moreover, the suspension of an increase in tobacco excise taxes in 2023 shifted costs to citizens while safeguarding industry profits.
Ibeh noted, "Political proximity is a recurring issue, with government officials, including the Oyo State Governor, participating in industry events, implying symbolic complicity." This proximity raises questions about the government's commitment to public health over industry interests.
Transparency remains a challenge, with government agencies failing to disclose interactions with tobacco companies as mandated by law. Additionally, limited training on Article 5.3 of the WHO-FCTC leaves officials unaware of ethical violations when engaging in tobacco-funded events.
The report urges the Nigerian government to take decisive action. Recommendations include banning tobacco-led CSR in public institutions, enforcing disclosure of all industry interactions, strengthening conflict-of-interest protocols, stabilizing tobacco taxes, providing comprehensive training on Article 5.3, and excluding tobacco companies from policy consultations, especially regarding new nicotine products.
Oluwafemi emphasizes the broader implications, stating, "It's not just about smokers' health; it's about the health of our democracy and public institutions' freedom from corporate control." This statement raises a crucial question: Can Nigeria reclaim its policy-making autonomy and protect public health from the tobacco industry's interference?
The Nigeria Tobacco Industry Interference Index is a global initiative led by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), aiming to empower governments and civil society to resist tobacco industry influence and uphold public health priorities.
