LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- President of the Nigerian Cancer Society (NCS), Prof. Abidemi Omonisi, has urged authorities to fully enforce the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, warning that rising tobacco use, nicotine addiction, and aggressive industry marketing tactics are putting more young Nigerians at risk.
To mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day, themed “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” the agency issued a statement on Monday in Abuja.
According to Omonisi, this addiction majorly affects young people.
The NCS president therefore called for stricter regulation of both traditional tobacco products and emerging nicotine devices, stating that it is urgently needed to address a growing public health challenge.
He warned that the increasing popularity of these products among youths could have serious long-term consequences.
“The tobacco industry continues to design new ways of targeting young people through attractive packaging, flavored nicotine products, digital marketing, and misinformation,” he said.
Omonisi noted that tobacco and nicotine companies continue to use various strategies to attract new users, including social media promotions, misleading advertisements, flavored products, and modern nicotine devices that are often marketed as safer alternatives.
Furthermore, he expressed concern about the way tobacco and nicotine products are increasingly being presented to young people as fashionable, harmless, or socially acceptable despite well-documented health risks.
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He stressed that nicotine addiction remains a major contributor to non-communicable diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular conditions, chronic respiratory illnesses, and mental health disorders.
The NCS president also highlighted the strong scientific evidence linking tobacco use to several forms of cancer.
These include lung, oral, throat, cervical, pancreatic, bladder, and liver cancers.
Omonisi added that tobacco use continues to rank among the leading preventable causes of cancer and premature death worldwide.
In response to the growing threat, Omonisi called on the Federal Government, policymakers, healthcare institutions, civil society groups, educators, parents, community leaders, and media organizations to strengthen tobacco control efforts across Nigeria.
Among the measures he recommended are expanded public awareness campaigns, stronger protection for children and young people from tobacco industry influence, increased access to smoking cessation services, and greater support for addiction recovery programmes.
He also advocated higher taxes on tobacco products, increased investment in cancer prevention initiatives, and broader public health promotion programmes aimed at reducing tobacco consumption.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Cancer Society reaffirmed its support for the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and other evidence-based policies designed to reduce tobacco use and protect public health.
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Omonisi maintained that preventing tobacco use remains one of the most effective and affordable ways to reduce the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
The NCS president further revealed that the society recently launched the Youth Coalition Against Cancer (YOCAC), a programme created to encourage healthy lifestyles among young Nigerians.
Members of the coalition are trained to act as peer educators and role models, helping to discourage tobacco use within their communities.
Marking the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, Omonisi urged Nigerians, especially young people, to avoid tobacco and nicotine products and adopt healthier habits.
“The fight against tobacco-related diseases requires collective responsibility and sustained commitment from all sectors of society. Together, we can build a healthier and cancer-free Nigeria,” Omonisi stated.
Ultimately, his message highlights growing concerns about tobacco-related diseases in the country, while reinforcing the need for coordinated action to protect future generations from the dangers of nicotine addiction.
