By JKNewsMedia
STRONGER PUBLIC health advocacy from Nigeria at the global level earned rare, unified commendation on Thursday from civil society organisations working in tobacco control, as the groups urged the federal government to match its Geneva performance with firmer implementation across the country.
The call followed the conclusion of the 11th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, where Nigeria’s delegation, led by the Minister of State for Health, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, received wide acknowledgment for what the groups described as “outstanding leadership”.
The commendation came through a joint statement issued by Corporate Accountability & Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), the Centre for Youth Inclusion & Development (CYID), and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CSLAC).
The groups stated that Nigeria demonstrated principled commitment throughout the week-long negotiations in Geneva and resisted repeated attempts at interference from tobacco interests.
The statement also noted that the country’s interventions aligned consistently with global public health objectives and reflected its obligations under the WHO-FCTC.
COP11, convened from 17 to 22 November in Geneva, brought together more than 1,400 delegates representing 162 Parties to the treaty, alongside international organisations and civil society networks.
Delegations reviewed progress made since the treaty’s adoption two decades ago and discussed strategies to accelerate implementation amid emerging product trends, rising nicotine innovation, and persistent industry pressure.
The Nigerian delegation presented national data, outlined strengthened enforcement actions and made what the CSOs described as timely contributions to negotiations on several agenda items.
According to the joint statement, Nigeria’s positions were especially clear in pushing for stronger regulation of emerging tobacco and nicotine products, an area that has posed increasing concern for Parties due to new marketing tactics and evolving consumption patterns.
The groups said the Nigerian delegation actively supported proposals aimed at reducing population-level risks and highlighted the need for comprehensive oversight to prevent a new generation of nicotine dependence.
The statement noted that Dr Salako, who delivered Nigeria’s high-level address during the conference, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the principles of the WHO-FCTC.
He exchanged data on national trends, presented updates on ongoing enforcement activities and stressed that Nigeria remained committed to regulatory measures designed to protect citizens.
The CSOs said the presentation underscored Nigeria’s adherence to international obligations and reflected sustained domestic efforts to strengthen oversight mechanisms.
In their assessment, the groups stated that Nigeria’s delegation demonstrated firmness in the face of industry-linked overtures.
They explained that the country made decisive interventions supporting stronger liability frameworks, environmental accountability measures and restrictions on emerging products.
They also noted that these interventions helped maintain momentum during negotiations and signalled Nigeria’s preference for comprehensive protections over diluted policy options.
Highlighting Nigeria’s influence within the African Group, the group notes that its contributions helped resolve negotiation impasses and stabilised key discussions.
Furthermore, they observed that the country’s voice carried weight in guiding consensus, particularly during technical debates requiring coordinated regional positions. Their statement added that Nigeria’s reliability on the African platform reaffirmed its status as a country committed to public health priorities at the continental level.
A separate statement issued by CAPPA’s Media Officer, Robert Egbe, endorsed this view, explaining that Nigeria’s inputs were relied upon at crucial points in the negotiations.
It was also noted that Nigeria’s interventions provided clarity during complex deliberations and contributed to the coherence of the region’s collective position as they said this role reflected long-standing recognition of Nigeria as an anchor within Africa’s tobacco control landscape.
Their joint statement also acknowledged the presence and contributions of Nigerian experts and civil society representatives at COP11. Among those recognised was Dr Omotayo Francis Fagbule, a Public Health Dentist and Tobacco Control Researcher at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.
The CSOs further described the involvement of Nigerian experts as an illustration of the “whole-of-society strength” supporting tobacco control in the country.
They said the broad representation demonstrated Nigeria’s commitment to multi-sectoral engagement, which is a key principle of the WHO-FCTC.
Despite the commendations, the CSOs issued a cautionary message, stating that Nigeria’s global performance must now translate into concrete domestic action.
They noted that although Nigeria defended public health robustly in Geneva, the latest global ranking on tobacco industry interference showed the country had slipped further.
They even said this development stressed the urgency of reinforcing protections at home and ensuring that policies remain insulated from undue influence.
Their statement emphasised that implementation remains the critical determinant of progress.
They stressed the need for stronger enforcement across the country and urged the government to accelerate regulatory action to match the commitments made during the global negotiations.
The CSOs said the National Tobacco Control Act and its Regulations require full operationalisation to deliver the protections intended by the law.
The organisations also called for sustained protection of public health policies from industry interference. According to the coalition, this requires clear and transparent safeguards across all levels of governance, particularly in policy development and enforcement structures.
They argued that Nigeria’s role on the global stage demonstrated what firm leadership looks like in tobacco control and urged that this approach be reflected in domestic processes.
A major point raised in the statement concerned funding for tobacco control, noting that without adequate, predictable and transparent domestic funding mechanisms, the National Tobacco Control Act risks becoming symbolic rather than effective.
They added that operational agencies require sufficient resources to enforce provisions, conduct surveillance, lead public education and support cessation programmes.
They also explained that funding gaps continue to limit full-scale implementation and urged the government to address this issue as part of its commitments following COP11.
The coalition maintained that Nigeria has shown clear leadership internationally and must now translate those actions into tangible benefits for citizens.
They said that demonstrating consistency between global advocacy and domestic implementation would strengthen public health outcomes and ensure that young people receive the full protections championed on the international stage.
Their statement emphasised that Nigeria’s leadership must now be evident in daily regulatory and enforcement activities, not only in diplomatic forums.
The CSOs reiterated that tobacco control remains a critical public health priority.
They stressed that implementation should reflect both the urgency communicated in Geneva and the realities of rising industry interference, increased product diversity and evolving marketing practices.
According to the groups, consolidating gains achieved at COP11 requires coordinated action across ministries, regulatory bodies and civil society organisations.
The statement concluded with a reminder that the next phase of Nigeria’s tobacco control efforts will determine the long-term impact of its global advocacy.
The groups said that firm domestic leadership, strategic enforcement and reliable funding will be central to ensuring that the progress celebrated at COP11 is sustained.
Their message reinforced the view that tobacco control requires continuity, commitment and consistent application of policies developed over years of negotiation.
