Gatefield Impact, a public policy advocacy organisation, has launched a fresh campaign calling on the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, to urgently ban the sale of e-cigarettes and vape products to persons under the age of 18.
The campaign, announced in a statement on Monday and shared with Science Nigeria in Abuja, is themed “Prof. Pate, You Cannot Afford to Look Away.” It highlights the growing public health threat posed by the rising use of vapes among Nigerian youth, driven largely by aggressive marketing tactics targeting minors.
“Vaping among young Nigerians is no longer a marginal concern; it has become a fast-growing epidemic,” Gatefield warned in the release.
The group noted that flavoured vapes are increasingly flooding schools, youth hangouts, and social media platforms, often without any age restrictions or checks.
A tobacco control advocate, Dr. Odunola Olabintan, warned that the colourful packaging, sweet flavours, and sleek, tech-inspired designs are intentionally crafted to attract children and teenagers.
“These products are colourful, easy to hide, and resemble everyday gadgets,” Olabintan explained. “We must reject this blatant targeting of young people and safeguard their health and future.”
Gatefield Impact is calling for an immediate ban on the sale and marketing of vapes to anyone under 18, strict enforcement of mandatory age-verification measures and a clear public commitment from the government to regulate emerging nicotine products.
Echoing the urgency, a public health expert, Dr. Yemisi Adeboye, stressed, “It is the government’s responsibility to act decisively, now, not tomorrow. We cannot sit back and watch our next generation fall prey to an industry profiting from their harm.”
Science Nigeria reports that Gatefield also warned that continued inaction could lead to higher rates of youth addiction, impaired brain development, and increased long-term health costs for the country.
“Nigeria cannot afford the cost of complacency,” the statement concluded firmly.
