As Nigeria marks Children’s Day 2025, parents in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are calling on the federal government to urgently address the widespread availability of banned and harmful products, particularly flavoured tobacco and e-cigarettes, which are increasingly being used by minors.
Speaking in Abuja during activities commemorating the day and in alignment with this year’s theme “Enhancing the Total Well-being of Children Through Quality Education and Skill Development” the parents warned that no meaningful progress can be made if children are trapped in addiction from an early age.
“Our children cannot learn or thrive in school if they’re battling addiction,” said Olamide Bello, a mother of three from Gwarinpa. “These flavoured vapes and tobacco products are undermining their health and future.”
Bello also criticized the aggressive marketing tactics used by tobacco companies, who she said target children with candy, fruit, and menthol-flavoured products using bright packaging and social media influencers. She urged the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, along with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), to establish and enforce strict guidelines banning the sale and advertisement of such products to minors.
Comfort Shamaki, a trader and mother of four, recalled witnessing children buying these items openly in Garki Market without any restriction.
Chinyere Eze, a parent and school volunteer in Asokoro, said she had observed children as young as 13 using e-cigarettes, often mimicking what they saw on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. She called for an immediate ban on the sale of flavoured tobacco and vaping products to minors and urged authorities to expand smoke-free laws to include e-cigarettes and shisha. Eze also pushed for tighter regulations on influencer marketing aimed at young people.
At Wuse Market, Emeka Okoro, a father of two, shared his experience confronting vendors selling nicotine products to students still in uniform. He expressed frustration at the lack of enforcement. “If we don’t act now, we’ll raise a generation of addicts instead of skilled, educated leaders,” he warned.
Okoro advocated for strict penalties, including hefty fines and criminal charges, for retailers caught selling such products to minors. He said the growing trend threatens not just children’s well-being but also the nation’s vision for quality education and sustainable development.
As the country reflects on this year’s Children’s Day, concerned parents and guardians are calling for a unified response from government agencies, communities, schools, and the media. They stressed the need to ensure every Nigerian child grows up in a safe, addiction-free environment that nurtures their health, education, and overall potential.
