By Esther Ososanya
Enticingly flavoured and deceptively marketed as a safer alternative, electronic cigarettes are swiftly gaining ground among young Nigerians—fuelling a silent addiction crisis as regulation stalls and public awareness remains alarmingly low.
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapour produced by an electronic device, typically called a vape pen, e-cigarette, or mod.
These devices heat a liquid, often containing nicotine and flavourings, into an aerosol that is then inhaled. Unlike traditional cigarettes, vaping does not involve burning tobacco.
This new culture is taking root in most cities in Nigeria, especially among young people aged 15 to 35, drawn by stylish devices, fruity flavours, and the illusion of a harmless high.
But, experts say, behind the vapour lies a storm of addiction, health hazards, and regulatory failure.
In an exclusive interview with Pinnacle Daily, Robert Egbe, tobacco control advocate at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), warned that ‘This is not innovation; it’s infiltration.’ We are witnessing the quiet creation of a nicotine-dependent generation, and the state is not responding fast enough.”
A Dangerous Illusion
Vaping is often promoted as a “less harmful” alternative to smoking. Tobacco companies now market e-cigarettes as part of a so-called tobacco harm reduction (THR) strategy.
But health advocates argue the harm is simply being repackaged and redirected, and Nigerian youths are the primary targets.
“It’s all smoke and mirrors,” Egbe said. “What they’re really doing is expanding their market. These devices don’t eliminate addiction; they entrench it.”
Many users, especially teenagers, wrongly believe vapes are safe because they don’t produce smoke. But in truth, most vapes contain highly addictive nicotine, along with toxic chemicals linked to cancer, heart disease, and lung damage.
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Recent Nigerian studies show a disturbing trend. One reports a lifetime vape use between 5.8% and 19.8%, while a Lagos-based survey found that 7.9% of respondents had tried e-cigarettes.
The majority are teenagers and young adults, many of whom started out experimenting and are now hooked.
Even more alarming is the growing overlap between vaping and substance abuse, with reports of vapes being laced with tramadol and other synthetic drugs to create stronger, undetectable “hits”.
“Some youths are now vaping liquid opioids without realising it,” Egbe noted. “This is no longer just about tobacco; it’s about public health being hijacked by addiction profiteers.”
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Regulatory Collapse
Nigeria’s tobacco control laws have not kept pace with the evolving market. While smoking is banned in certain public places, vaping remains largely unregulated.
Flavoured disposables flood the market, sold without age checks, some for as little as ₦1,000, cheaper than a soft drink.
Worse still, Nigeria’s progressive excise tax policy on vape and tobacco products introduced in 2022 to curb usage was suspended in 2023 under pressure from industry lobbyists, who cited economic hardship.
The reversal weakened deterrents and made harmful products more affordable.
“We weakened our own laws to please an industry that profits from youth addiction,” Egbe said. “That’s not economic policy. That’s public endangerment.”
Across the globe, governments are tightening regulations. Australia and New Zealand have banned recreational vapes. In the UK and US, studies show that youths who vape are significantly more likely to transition to cigarettes or experiment with other substances.
But in Nigeria, marketing continues unchecked. Social media influencers glamorise vape culture, and vape brands sponsor public events, all while the country lacks basic data monitoring or public health tracking.
The Health Toll
Medical professionals warn that nicotine exposure during adolescence can interfere with brain development, affecting memory, mood, and impulse control. It also primes the brain for lifelong addiction.
Some young Nigerians already report symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, and depression after only a few months of vaping.
Egbe called for urgent action from the Nigerian government, including reinstating and increasing excise taxes on vape products. Enforcing age restrictions and banning youth-targeted marketing, Prohibiting flavoured and disposable vapes aimed at minors, Launching national awareness campaigns in schools and the media, Funding cessation programs and quitline services for addicted youth
“We have the chance to act now before a full-blown epidemic emerges,” he said. “Every day we delay is another day Big Tobacco wins.”
Egbe concluded with a sobering reminder, “What began as a fad is fast becoming a public health threat, and the silence surrounding it is as dangerous as the product itself.”
If Nigeria fails to wake up to this growing crisis, we may soon face the consequences not just in hospitals, but in schools, workplaces, and homes where addiction, illness, and misinformation have already taken root.”
Vaping may seem like vapour. But for thousands of young Nigerians, it could mark the beginning of a lifetime of harm.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
