Africa’s nicotine moment: What to watch in 2026
January 06, 2026 by environewsnigeria.com
Africa’s nicotine moment: What to watch in 2026
In 2026, Africa faces a critical decision on tobacco harm reduction policies. Despite strengthening tobacco control measures, smoking remains dominant. African governments must choose to enable safer alternatives or regulate all nicotine equally. The tension between traditional control and harm reduction approaches is growing. Countries like South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia face key decisions on regulating novel nicotine products. Risk-proportionate regulation could lead to decreased smoking rates and healthcare costs. The continent's public health narrative now focuses on accelerating harm reduction alongside tobacco control efforts to combat smoking effectively.
