By Yusuff Adebisi

As Nigeria battles rising tobacco-related illnesses and deaths, public health experts are calling on the federal government to adopt a harm reduction approach, citing stark policy outcomes from New Zealand and South Africa as cautionary tales and models for reform.

A new policy report titled A Tale of Two Nations, authored by global health advocate Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi, compares how New Zealand’s evidence-based harm reduction strategy has dramatically lowered smoking rates, while South Africa’s prohibitionist approach has spurred black market growth and failed to curb tobacco use.

“New Zealand’s model shows that when harm reduction is taken seriously and backed by science, the results can be transformative,” Adebisi said in an interview. “South Africa, on the other hand, is an example of how prohibitionist policies can backfire and put more people at risk.”

New Zealand is on course to become smoke-free by 2025. Its approach includes public education campaigns like Vape to Quit Strong, low taxation on safer nicotine products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco devices, and regulation that ensures product quality and access. According to Public Health England, vaping is estimated to be 95% less harmful than traditional smoking.

“These products aren’t without risk,” Adebisi noted, “but they are significantly less harmful than combustible cigarettes, and that distinction matters when lives are at stake.”

South Africa took a different path. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a temporary nationwide ban on tobacco products led to a surge in illicit trade, counterfeit goods, and unregulated consumption. Despite this, the country has yet to adopt any harm reduction framework. As a result, nearly one in five adults continues to smoke, with limited access to safer alternatives.

“Instead of reducing smoking, the ban drove consumers into the arms of the black market,” Adebisi said. “It became harder for the government to monitor what people were consuming, and easier for harmful, low-quality products to circulate.”

Nigeria, which relies primarily on taxation and public warnings to curb tobacco use, stands at a policy crossroads. The country’s tobacco control efforts have shown limited effectiveness, with growing concerns over illicit tobacco trade and a lack of consumer awareness about safer nicotine alternatives.

“Current tobacco control measures in Nigeria are important, but they’re not enough,” Adebisi warned. “We need a smarter strategy that provides smokers with safer alternatives and encourages them to switch through evidence-based communication and reasonable regulation.”

He is calling on Nigerian lawmakers and public health authorities to legalize and regulate reduced-risk products, such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, under a transparent framework that prioritizes consumer safety and public health oversight.

One key recommendation from Adebisi is to reform Nigeria’s tax structure. “Tax policies must reflect the relative risks of products,” he said. “Taxing all nicotine products the same way removes the financial incentive for smokers to switch to safer options.”

In addition to fiscal policy, public education is a critical pillar. “Many Nigerians are still unaware that some nicotine alternatives are significantly less harmful than cigarettes,” Adebisi said. “If we don’t provide clear, accurate information, we leave people in the dark, and that’s dangerous.”

He also stressed the need for a dynamic monitoring and evaluation system to adjust policies based on real-time data.

With Nigeria facing a growing problem of illicit tobacco sales, Adebisi believes harm reduction could help weaken

Written by Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi global health advocate, pharmacist, and policy researcher focused on health equity, innovation, and sustainable development.