BACKGROUND AND IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES: Nigeria enacted the Tobacco Control Act in 2015 and the Nigerian Tobacco Control Regulations in 2019. The Tobacco industry has long-standing history of plotting to weaken public health laws. One of it’s recent attempts was the submission of multiple bills to amend existing provisions of the Tobacco laws viz: “A bill for an Act to amend the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and ensure that the implementation of this Act is carried out by the National Agency for Food, Drugs Administration and Control and for related matter 2024” ; ‘’A bill for an Act to amend the National Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act 2015 to impose stiffer penalties for smoking of tobacco in public places and related matters’’ and “A bill for an Act to amend the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 to cure certain defects in the Act, ensure its effective implementation in Nigeria and address the lacuna that may be easily exploited by the Tobacco industry in Nigeria; and for related matters’’.
INTERVENTION OR RESPONSE: Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) along side several stakeholders, submitted detailed memorandum to challenge the proposed bills, highlighting the dangers posed by the industry to weaken existing laws and called for an amendment to strengthen Nigeria’s tobacco control laws. Furthermore, CAPPA engaged progressive parliamentarians with interest in public health issues to support its position. It also mobilized the media for widespread coverage of the issues and build public outrage against the industry’s agenda.
RESULTS AND IMPACT: These multi-faceted approaches, played pivotal role in ensuring that the existing tobacco control laws are preserved. It set precedents that future tobacco industry interference will be met with strong and strategic oppositions.
CONCLUSIONS: There is need for vigilance and strategic response to protect tobacco control laws from incessant industry interference which can come via amendment bills