The Rivers State Government has announced plans to tighten tobacco control regulations in response to growing concerns over rising youth vaping and nicotine use in the state.
Health officials and anti-tobacco advocates in Rivers warned that sweet-flavoured e-cigarettes, disposable vapes, and other emerging nicotine products are increasingly targeting teenagers and young adults, exploiting policy gaps and weak enforcement. They noted that the situation mirrors national findings showing that tobacco companies are pushing electronic cigarettes, vapes, and similar products at Nigerian youths.
Youth-focused groups have called for stricter laws and implementation to protect children from nicotine addiction, urging government to urgently restrict the sale of e-cigarettes, vapes, and flavoured tobacco products to minors. They are also demanding tougher penalties for vendors who sell such products to underage users and tighter regulation of marketing and distribution channels.
Public health experts cited global and local evidence showing that youth vaping has risen sharply in recent years and is not risk-free, with nicotine exposure affecting brain areas responsible for learning, memory, and attention, particularly in adolescents. Studies have also found that young people who vape are significantly more likely to later smoke cigarettes or use other substances, reinforcing calls for preventative regulation.
Marking World No Tobacco Day 2026, the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) in Rivers State launched a campaign themed “Protecting Our Children,” stressing that “our children are the target” of the new nicotine market and urging authorities to act decisively.
Policy advocates have recommended that states like Rivers fully enforce age limits on tobacco and vape sales, ban flavoured and disposable vapes aimed at youth, and close legal loopholes that allow aggressive marketing of nicotine products. They argue that without stronger state-level action and sustained funding for tobacco control, Nigeria risks a worsening youth nicotine crisis.
About the author
Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Eid Holiday, Resumes Official Duties
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after observing the Eid-el-Adha holiday in Lagos and concluding a state visit to the United Kingdom, resuming full official duties at the seat of power. The President departed Lagos on Wednesday evening from the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at approximately 6:44 p.m., marking the end of a busy schedule that combined official engagements, diplomatic visits, and festive activities. President Tinubu had earlier returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on Friday morning and immediately joined Muslim faithful for Eid-el-Fitr prayers at Dodan Barracks in Lagos before spending four days in the commercial hub for the Eid-el-Adha holiday. During his stay in Lagos, Tinubu held meetings with key stakeholders, including state governors, business leaders, and members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, discussing national issues and governance priorities. […]
13 Reps Switch Parties as Chinda Resigns as Minority Leader
Thirteen members of the House of Representatives have switched political parties in a major political realignment that has reshaped the party composition in the 10th National Assembly. The mass defection comes as Ahmad Chinda, the former Minority Leader of the House, has resigned from his position, marking a significant shift in the legislative landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chinda's resignation as Minority Leader has triggered speculation about the future direction of opposition politics in the National Assembly. The representatives who switched parties represent various constituencies across Nigeria and their defections have altered the balance of power between the ruling party and the opposition in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. The move has been described as one of the largest party-switching incidents in recent Nigerian political history. Political analysts say the defections reflect growing fluidity in Nigeria's […]
INEC Probes Leak of Voter Data, Traces User Account
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it is investigating a leak of voter registration data and has traced the incident to a user account belonging to one of its staff members with authorized access to the Continuous Voter Registration database. The commission disclosed that the breach was an internal incident, following forensic analysis of the leaked data and examination of system logs. The staff member in question had legitimate access to the CVR portal, but allegedly misused it to extract and share sensitive voter information online. nigeria Politics Nigeria reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a fresh probe into the data leak after it was traced to an internal breach at INEC. The security agency is working with INEC’s ICT department to identify the full extent of the compromised data and the individuals […]
Army Plans Indigenous Innovation in Campaign Against Insecurity
The Nigerian Army has outlined plans to deepen indigenous technological innovation in its campaign against insecurity across the country, emphasizing the need for local solutions to Nigerian security challenges. At the seventh edition of the Army War College Nigeria annual Nigeria Civil War symposium, themed “Indigenous Technological Innovation in the Nigerian Civil War: Lessons for Contemporary Military Operations,” Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General W.A.I. Shuaibu, represented by the Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, stressed that officers must embrace indigenous technological innovations to win the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The Army War College Nigeria course 10 2026, with the overarching theme “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defense,” provides a contemporary framework for applying lessons drawn from the symposium, emphasizing that technological autonomy is vital in modern warfare. The Nigerian Army Armoured Corps […]
Iran Leader Mojtaba Khamenei Alive, Increasingly Engaging, Rubio Says
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is alive and “increasingly engaged at some level,” ending weeks of speculation about his health and whereabouts amid the ongoing conflict between the US and Iran. Speaking to US lawmakers on Tuesday, Rubio said Khamenei remains involved in Iran’s leadership apparatus even as the country’s conventional military shield has been substantially eroded by US-Israeli strikes. He added that Iran still retains a large number of drones despite the damage to its defence capabilities. The revelation comes amid growing uncertainty over Khamenei’s status after he made no public appearance for nearly six weeks following his appointment as Iran’s supreme leader in March 2026 after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in US-Israeli strikes. Intelligence assessments from both Israel and the United States have suggested that Khamenei […]
Oyo Abductions: Parents Reject Rice, Cash, Demand Release of Kidnapped Children
Families of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oyo State have rejected rice and money brought by government officials, insisting that their only priority is the safe return of their children. The relatives turned down the relief items during a meeting with state representatives, saying they could not accept food and cash while their loved ones remain in the hands of kidnappers. “They brought rice and money, but the parents turned it down. They said their priority is the safe return of their children,” a community leader close to the affected families explained. The abductions occurred during a brutal attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where dozens of pupils and staff of Community High School were taken into the forest. Among the victims are children, teachers, and a school principal, who has since pleaded for help in […]
Related
Tinubu Returns to Abuja After Eid Holiday, Resumes Official Duties
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has returned to Abuja after observing the Eid-el-Adha holiday in Lagos and concluding a state visit to the United Kingdom, resuming full official duties at the seat of power. The President departed Lagos on Wednesday evening from the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport at approximately 6:44 p.m., marking the end of a busy schedule that combined official engagements, diplomatic visits, and festive activities. President Tinubu had earlier returned to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on Friday morning and immediately joined Muslim faithful for Eid-el-Fitr prayers at Dodan Barracks in Lagos before spending four days in the commercial hub for the Eid-el-Adha holiday. During his stay in Lagos, Tinubu held meetings with key stakeholders, including state governors, business leaders, and members of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council, discussing national issues and governance priorities. […]
13 Reps Switch Parties as Chinda Resigns as Minority Leader
Thirteen members of the House of Representatives have switched political parties in a major political realignment that has reshaped the party composition in the 10th National Assembly. The mass defection comes as Ahmad Chinda, the former Minority Leader of the House, has resigned from his position, marking a significant shift in the legislative landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections. Chinda's resignation as Minority Leader has triggered speculation about the future direction of opposition politics in the National Assembly. The representatives who switched parties represent various constituencies across Nigeria and their defections have altered the balance of power between the ruling party and the opposition in the lower chamber of the National Assembly. The move has been described as one of the largest party-switching incidents in recent Nigerian political history. Political analysts say the defections reflect growing fluidity in Nigeria's […]
INEC Probes Leak of Voter Data, Traces User Account
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that it is investigating a leak of voter registration data and has traced the incident to a user account belonging to one of its staff members with authorized access to the Continuous Voter Registration database. The commission disclosed that the breach was an internal incident, following forensic analysis of the leaked data and examination of system logs. The staff member in question had legitimate access to the CVR portal, but allegedly misused it to extract and share sensitive voter information online. nigeria Politics Nigeria reports that the Department of State Services (DSS) has launched a fresh probe into the data leak after it was traced to an internal breach at INEC. The security agency is working with INEC’s ICT department to identify the full extent of the compromised data and the individuals […]
Army Plans Indigenous Innovation in Campaign Against Insecurity
The Nigerian Army has outlined plans to deepen indigenous technological innovation in its campaign against insecurity across the country, emphasizing the need for local solutions to Nigerian security challenges. At the seventh edition of the Army War College Nigeria annual Nigeria Civil War symposium, themed “Indigenous Technological Innovation in the Nigerian Civil War: Lessons for Contemporary Military Operations,” Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General W.A.I. Shuaibu, represented by the Deputy Director-General of the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre, stressed that officers must embrace indigenous technological innovations to win the fight against terrorism and insurgency. The Army War College Nigeria course 10 2026, with the overarching theme “Harnessing Indigenous Technological Innovations for Enhanced National Defense,” provides a contemporary framework for applying lessons drawn from the symposium, emphasizing that technological autonomy is vital in modern warfare. The Nigerian Army Armoured Corps […]
Oyo Abductions: Parents Reject Rice, Cash, Demand Release of Kidnapped Children
Families of pupils and teachers abducted by bandits in Oyo State have rejected rice and money brought by government officials, insisting that their only priority is the safe return of their children. The relatives turned down the relief items during a meeting with state representatives, saying they could not accept food and cash while their loved ones remain in the hands of kidnappers. “They brought rice and money, but the parents turned it down. They said their priority is the safe return of their children,” a community leader close to the affected families explained. The abductions occurred during a brutal attack on schools in Oriire Local Government Area, where dozens of pupils and staff of Community High School were taken into the forest. Among the victims are children, teachers, and a school principal, who has since pleaded for help in […]
NSCDC Dismisses Five Kano Volunteer Personnel Over Gross Indiscipline
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Kano State Command, has dismissed five volunteer personnel over what it described as acts of gross indiscipline and conduct unbecoming of members of the corps. The command said the affected volunteers were found guilty by a disciplinary panel after they allegedly violated standing regulations guiding the conduct of NSCDC operatives and volunteers in the state. Their offences reportedly bordered on insubordination, absenteeism from duty posts and other acts considered prejudicial to the image of the corps. A statement credited to the Kano NSCDC command explained that the decision was taken to “send a clear signal” that the corps would not tolerate misconduct at any level, whether among regular officers or volunteers. It added that discipline remains the backbone of security agencies and must be upheld to maintain public confidence. The command noted […]
Be the first to leave a comment