Gatefield Impact, a public policy advocacy organisation, has launched a campaign urging the Federal Government to ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vaping products to individuals under 18 years of age.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the group appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, to take immediate action to curb what it described as a growing public health crisis.
The campaign, titled “Prof. Pate, You Cannot Afford to Look Away,” raised alarm over the increasing use of vaping products among Nigerian adolescents—fueled by marketing tactics that specifically target minors.
“Vaping among young Nigerians is no longer a marginal concern; it is a fast-growing epidemic,” Gatefield stated.
According to the organisation, flavoured vape products have become increasingly common in schools, recreational venues, and on digital platforms. The group warned that enforcement of age restrictions is weak, and that online sales often lack proper age verification mechanisms.
Dr. Odunola Olabintan, a tobacco control advocate, highlighted the ways in which these products are designed to attract children.
“They’re colourful, easily accessible, and crafted to resemble everyday gadgets. We must reject this blatant targeting of our youth and act to protect their health and future,” she said.
Olabintan called for an immediate ban on the sale and advertisement of vaping products to minors, along with mandatory age-verification protocols and clear regulations for emerging nicotine products.
Also speaking, public health expert Dr. Yemisi Adeboye reinforced the call for swift government action.
“It is the government’s responsibility to act now, not tomorrow. We cannot continue to watch a generation fall victim to an industry that profits from their vulnerability,” she said.
Gatefield warned that continued inaction could result in lasting consequences, including youth addiction, impaired brain development, and increased long-term health burdens on the nation.
“Nigeria cannot afford the cost of complacency,” the group concluded.
