The World Health Organisation (WHO) has called on Member States, parliamentarians, regulators, civil society, educators, parents and young people across the African Region to unite against the deceptive tactics of the tobacco and nicotine industry.
WHO regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohammed Janabi made the call in his message on the occasion of the 2026 World No Tobacco Day.
World No Tobacco Day, marked annually on May 31, brings together governments, health organisations, civil society and youth from around the world to raise awareness of the threats of tobacco use and the tactics used by the tobacco and nicotine industry to engineer addiction.
“Together, we must safeguard the health of the next generation, preserve the hard‑won progress in tobacco control, and secure a future in which Africa’s children and young people can grow up, learn and thrive free from addiction.
“The time to act is now,’’ he said.
Janabi emphasised the need to safeguard public health policy from tobacco industry interference.
According to him, the tobacco and nicotine industry continues to lobby, take legal action, fund front groups and run misleading corporate social responsibility campaigns.
“It spreads misinformation and often presents itself as a partner in public health or as a champion of ‘harm reduction’. These tactics are designed to delay, weaken or derail effective regulation.
“We must be clear: the industry that engineered the addiction and profited from it for decades cannot be permitted to influence public health solutions.
“Policies must be grounded in independent, transparent and evidence‑based science, in full conformity with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control which requires governments to protect health policy from tobacco industry interference.”
According to him, protecting Africa’s children and young people from engineered nicotine addiction is not optional; it is a moral, social and public health imperative.
The director, however, said that preventing addiction is far easier, more effective and more equitable than treating it once it has taken hold, and it is essential to sustaining the Region’s development gains.
In addition, Janabi urged the Member States in the African Region to strengthen and enforce regulations that reduce the addictiveness, attractiveness and accessibility of tobacco and nicotine products, particularly for children and young people.
This, according to him, includes banning flavours and additives such as menthol, sweeteners, acids and synthetic coolants, which increase the appeal of products and makes them easier to inhale.
He also urged closing regulatory loopholes that allow the tobacco and nicotine industry to evade existing laws by introducing nicotine-like products and other new substances; and strengthening the regulation of product design, packaging and marketing to prevent the targeting and deception of young people.
“As part of a comprehensive strategy, countries should also consider reducing nicotine content to non‑addictive levels, in line with WHO scientific recommendations, to reduce the addictiveness of products and protect young people.”
The director further called on governments to respond with decisive, evidence‑based action.
He noted that over the past two decades, the African Region had made commendable progress in tobacco control.
“Many countries have ratified and implemented key provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, enacted comprehensive tobacco control legislation, strengthened smoke‑free environments, introduced large pictorial health warnings, increased tobacco taxes and expanded access to cessation support.
“Tobacco use prevalence in the Region remains among the lowest globally, and several countries are on track to meet global tobacco reduction targets.
“These achievements show clearly that effective policies and determined government leadership can protect public health, save lives and reduce health inequities.
“However, these hard‑won gains are under increasing threat from new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, aggressive and sophisticated,’’ he said.
