NECA, SON and Health Ministry Warn NAFDAC Bill May Duplicate Tobacco Regulation

NECA, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare have raised concerns over a proposed NAFDAC bill that would extend food and drug regulation to tobacco products. The bill, which passed second reading in the Senate on July 21, 2026, would repeal the Food, Drugs and Related Products Act of 2004 and introduce a new framework for food, medicines and related products. Stakeholders say including tobacco could duplicate the National Tobacco Control Act and create conflicting roles for NAFDAC, SON, the Health Ministry and Customs. They warn this may lead to repeated approvals, higher compliance costs and uncertainty for manufacturers and importers. They have asked the National Assembly to review the proposal, exclude tobacco from the bill or add safeguards that clearly define each agency’s powers.

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