Nigeria can save thousands of lives by adopting Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) strategies, according to the Lives Saved Report: Nigeria & Kenya.
The report urges the country to offer smokers safer alternatives like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco products, which avoid the harmful combustion process found in traditional cigarettes.
Although smoking rates are falling, many Nigerians still struggle to quit.
“Taxation and smoking bans help,” says, Global Director at Global Health Focus, Yussuff Adebayo, “but they don’t go far enough.
“THR gives smokers a realistic path away from deadly cigarettes”.
Barriers To Awareness
However, limited awareness continues to block progress.
Many Nigerian policymakers rely solely on the World Health Organisation’s MPOWER framework, which critics say ignores harm reduction.
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Meanwhile, fear-based campaigns have confused the public and discouraged safer choices.
To strengthen their case, the report highlights success stories from countries like Sweden, the UK, and New Zealand.
These nations have embraced THR, sharply reduced smoking rates, and improved public health.
Sweden, for example, now leads the world towards a smoke-free future through widespread use of non-combustible products.
Economic And Health Benefits
Moreover, the report stresses that THR can ease pressure on Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system by cutting preventable illnesses and treatment costs.
To move forward, the authors call on Nigeria to introduce risk-based regulations, invest in research, and launch public education campaigns to replace fear with facts.
Although the government has yet to act, advocacy groups have begun raising awareness.
“Now is the time for science-driven reform,” says Adebayo.
“Nigeria can lead the region to a smoke-free future.”
