A new health report says that Nigeria can save thousands of lives if adult smokers are given safer alternatives to cigarettes, such as nicotine pouches, e-cigarettes, and heated tobacco.
The report, titled The Lives Saved Report: Nigeria & Kenya, says Nigeria’s current anti-smoking methods, like tax increases and smoking bans, are helpful but not enough. It recommends a new approach called Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR), which focuses on replacing cigarettes with less harmful products.
“With bold leadership and smart policy, Nigeria can chart a new path toward a smoke-free future, one built on compassion, science, and common sense,” the report stated.
Dr. Yussuff Adebayo, Global Director for Research and Thought Leadership at Global Health Focus, explained that not all smokers are able to quit. He said THR gives them another option to reduce health risks.
Dr. Adebayo said, “Traditional tobacco control efforts like taxation, advertising bans, and public smoking restrictions have been useful, but they fall short in addressing the fact that many smokers simply can’t quit. Tobacco Harm Reduction gives us another tool to help adult smokers transition away from deadly cigarettes.”
THR promotes the use of nicotine products that do not involve burning tobacco, which is the main cause of smoking-related diseases. According to the report, products like nicotine pouches do not produce harmful smoke, making them safer for smokers who are unable to quit completely.
The report also warned that Nigeria may lose a big public health opportunity if it fails to create policies that separate traditional cigarettes from non-combustible alternatives.
“Nigeria must develop a risk-proportionate regulatory framework, one that clearly distinguishes between combustible cigarettes and non-combustible nicotine alternatives,” the report said.
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However, many Nigerians wrongly believe that nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes are just as dangerous as cigarettes. The report blamed fear-based public campaigns for spreading this misinformation.
It called for better public education and asked universities, research centres, and health groups to create local data to inform people about safer alternatives.
Countries like Sweden, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand were mentioned as examples of how THR has worked. Sweden, for example, is expected to become the world’s first smoke-free country because many smokers have switched to non-combustible products.
Experts say Nigeria’s health system is under pressure from tobacco-related illnesses. THR could help reduce hospital visits and support the country’s efforts to provide better health care for all.
Although Nigeria has not officially approved THR, some advocacy groups and private health centres have started holding workshops to teach people about it.
Dr. Adebayo added, “Progress is slow, but there is momentum. We need to keep pushing for reforms based on science, not stigma.”
The report said cooperation between doctors, researchers, NGOs, and community leaders is important to correct false beliefs and help smokers make better choices.