Walk into a phone accessories shop in Lagos and you may find vapes in candy colours, some promising up to 50,000 puffs. The pitch: this is how you quit smoking.
The evidence is more mixed than the marketing. A large Cochrane review updated in August 2026 found regulated nicotine vapes helped about 8 to 10 in every 100 adult smokers quit for six months, compared with about 6 in 100 using patches or gum. But long-term safety has not been established.
And that is not what is happening in Nigeria’s shops. CAPPA’s survey in Lagos, Enugu and the FCT found 522 vape variants and young people who had never smoked getting hooked. “These products are entry points, not exit ramps,” said researcher Olamide Martins Ogunlade.
Want to quit? Ask a doctor or pharmacist about proven support.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
The Health Factor Africa
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