WHO Raises Alarm Over ‘Engineered’ Nicotine Addiction Among Africa’s Youth
As tobacco use declines in many parts of Africa, public health experts are warning that a new generation is being targeted through sophisticated nicotine products designed to make addiction easier and more appealing.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Director for Africa, Mohamed Yakub Janabi, issued the warning in his message marking World No Tobacco Day 2026, stressing that nicotine addiction is “not accidental but engineered”.
Speaking on this year’s theme, “Unmasking the appeal, countering nicotine and tobacco addiction,” Janabi said the tobacco and nicotine industry continues to use flavoured products, attractive packaging, social media promotion and misleading marketing tactics to lure children and young people into lifelong addiction.
He noted that while African countries have recorded significant progress in tobacco control through stronger legislation, higher taxes, smoke-free policies and public awareness campaigns, these gains are being threatened by emerging nicotine products and aggressive industry interference.
Janabi urged governments across the region to tighten regulations, ban flavours and additives that make nicotine products more attractive, close legal loopholes exploited by manufacturers and shield public health policies from tobacco industry influence.
Describing the protection of young people from nicotine addiction as a moral and public health imperative, he called on governments, lawmakers, educators, parents and civil society groups to unite in safeguarding Africa’s next generation from what he described as deceptive industry tactics.
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