CAPPA files FOI request on national tobacco control bill

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Wednesday filed a Freedom of Information (FOI) request with the National Assembly, demanding comprehensive legislative records on the National Tobacco Control Act (Amendment) bill, 2025.

This was following concerns by public health stakeholders that proposed changes would weaken Nigeria’s tobacco-control framework.

The media and communications officer, CAPPA, Robert Egbe in a statement Wednesday stated that the request, dated August 13 and addressed to the Clerk of the Senate, came days after a coalition of more than 100 civil society organisations rejected the proposed amendments and called for the bill’s immediate recall.

He said he was seeking the records to establish the legislative history of the bill, promote transparency in the lawmaking process and clarify provisions that the tobacco-control community considered dangerous to public health.

He said the FOI request to the National Assembly provides certified copies of the Senate and House of Representatives Votes and Proceedings reflecting every stage of the bill’s consideration.

He said it included first and second readings, committee referral, and consideration of committee reports, third reading and passage.

He said it also requested the dates of each legislative stage, the names and constituencies of sponsors and co-sponsors, relevant committee reports, details of public hearings and stakeholder submissions, and the bill’s current status, including whether it had been transmitted for presidential assent.

“CAPPA invoked Sections 1(1), 2(3)(f) and 4 of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011, and requested that the National Assembly provide the information within the statutory seven-day period.

“It said the records could be supplied electronically or as certified physical copies where applicable.”