Health
The Growing Popularity of Nicotine Free Vaping Worldwide
Over the last decade, vaping has emerged as one of the most popular alternatives to smoking. For many people, it offered a way to reduce the health risks of cigarettes while still enjoying a familiar experience. But in recent years, a new category has entered the spotlight: nicotine free vapes. These products are reshaping how people view wellness, addiction, and lifestyle choices, creating a movement that goes beyond smoking cessation and into a broader cultural shift.
Nicotine is the addictive chemical that keeps smokers hooked on cigarettes. Even when switching to regular vapes, many people remain tied to the cycle of dependence because nicotine is still present. Nicotine free vapes eliminate this ingredient entirely, offering the act of vaping without the addictive pull. For some, this is a small adjustment. For others, it represents freedom from years of struggling to break away from addiction. The absence of nicotine is what makes these products stand out and why their popularity is steadily increasing.
A major appeal of nicotine free vaping is the focus on flavor and variety. Instead of being limited to the harsh taste of tobacco, consumers can explore countless flavors, ranging from tropical fruits to desserts to refreshing mint blends. This makes the experience fun and customizable. Younger adults especially have embraced this variety, treating it less like a substitute for smoking and more like a lifestyle choice. In social settings, sharing and recommending flavors has become part of the enjoyment.
Technology has also played an important role in the rise of nicotine free vaping. Early vaping devices often came with drawbacks such as weak vapor production, short battery life, and inconsistent performance. Modern devices, however, feature advanced heating systems, reliable batteries, and smoother airflow. These improvements have made nicotine free vapes just as satisfying as traditional options, often with an even more refined user experience. By combining sleek design with functionality, these devices have become both practical and appealing to a broad range of users.
From a health perspective, nicotine free vapes are seen as a safer alternative. While it is important to acknowledge that inhaling vapor is not completely without risks, removing nicotine reduces one of the most harmful factors. Nicotine affects the cardiovascular system, raises blood pressure, and fuels addiction. Without it, users can enjoy the sensory experience of vaping without exposing themselves to those dangers. This has made nicotine free vapes especially attractive to people who are health conscious but still enjoy the social and sensory aspects of vaping.
For individuals trying to quit smoking, nicotine free vapes can serve as a transitional tool. Many smokers struggle with two aspects of quitting: the chemical addiction to nicotine and the behavioral habit of holding and inhaling a cigarette. Nicotine free devices allow them to maintain the ritual while gradually reducing their reliance on nicotine. This combination of psychological comfort and reduced chemical exposure often makes quitting feel more achievable.
The social acceptance of nicotine free vaping is another factor in its growing appeal. In many communities, smoking carries a negative stigma due to its well known health consequences. Vaping without nicotine removes much of that stigma and opens the activity to people who simply enjoy the flavors and social aspects. This inclusivity has helped build communities around vaping, with users exchanging tips, flavors, and device recommendations without the heavy baggage of addiction.
Of course, there are ongoing debates. Critics worry that vaping in any form could normalize the act of smoking like behavior and attract people who would not otherwise pick up the habit. Supporters argue that nicotine free options provide a harm reduction pathway, especially for long term smokers who have struggled to quit. The discussion reflects the complexity of balancing health concerns with personal freedom and choice.
Despite the debates, the demand for nicotine free vapes continues to grow. Consumers today are more aware of their health, more interested in technology, and more focused on lifestyle balance. These devices meet those expectations by offering a way to enjoy vaping without the risks of addiction. They represent not just a product but a cultural shift toward more intentional and mindful consumption.
Looking ahead, nicotine free vaping is likely to expand even further. As technology advances, devices will become smaller, more efficient, and even more customizable. Flavors will continue to diversify, giving users endless ways to personalize their experience. For many, this will mean having the freedom to enjoy vaping on their own terms without being tied to the addictive grip of nicotine. In a world where wellness and lifestyle choices are increasingly intertwined, nicotine free vapes are emerging as a powerful example of how innovation can support healthier habits.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) says the number of Nigerians enrolled in health insurance has risen to more than 22 million.
The Director-General of NHIA, Mr Kelechi Ohiri, said this resulted from the implementation of the mandatory health insurance, which has gained momentum nationwide.
He said this on Wednesday at the Annual General Meeting of the Nigerian Association of Insurance and Pension Editors (NAIPE) in Lagos.
Mr Ohiri said enrolment had increased to 22.03 million, representing a 35 per cent year-on-year growth, attributing this to stronger collaboration with state social health insurance agencies, ministries, departments and agencies, organised labour, employers, the private sector, and the gradual implementation of the mandatory health insurance provisions of the NHIA Act.
He said that the country had moved beyond policy formulation to delivering measurable improvements in healthcare access, service quality and consumer protection in line with the federal government’s health sector reform agenda.
According to him, Nigeria already has the necessary policies and legislation to achieve Universal Health Coverage, positing that the key challenge was effective implementation.
“The decisive variable is now implementation- consistent, rigorous and accountable execution that converts political commitment into healthcare access for real Nigerians,” he said.
Mr Ohiri said that the transition from the former National Health Insurance Scheme to the NHIA had strengthened regulation, consumer protection, accountability and strategic purchasing, while providing the legal and operational framework for achieving Universal Health Coverage.
He added that improving the experience of enrollees remained central to the Authority’s reform agenda.
According to him, NHIA has strengthened its complaints management system, introduced faster resolution timelines, and intensified compliance monitoring of Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) and healthcare providers.
He further added that NHIA had sanctioned facilities that failed to meet the required standards, adding that his organisation had resolved 3,878 complaints, representing an 87 per cent resolution rate, while 95 per cent of the cases were concluded within prescribed timelines.
Mr Ohiri noted that more than N14.2 million had been refunded to enrollees, while non-compliant healthcare facilities had been sanctioned.
He said NHIA had also introduced service standards, including a one-hour treatment commencement target for enrollees requiring urgent care, to improve access to timely and quality healthcare services.
The NHIA boss further disclosed that capitation payments to healthcare providers had been increased by 93 per cent.
He said fee-for-service reimbursements rose by 378 per cent to enable providers to invest more in personnel, equipment and infrastructure.
According to him, 7,592 healthcare facilities have been assessed under the SafeCare quality framework as part of efforts to institutionalise continuous quality improvement across the country.
Mr Ohiri also highlighted interventions targeted at vulnerable groups, including support for more than 48,500 pregnant women, expanded maternal and newborn healthcare services, the Vulnerable Group Fund, and improved access to healthcare for pensioners and retirees.
He said Universal Health Coverage could only be achieved if every Nigerian, regardless of income or location, had access to quality healthcare services.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The new one-hour authorisation response time ultimatum policy introduced by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has received the full backing of SUNU Health Nigeria Limited.
This policy was introduced by the agency to ensure enrollees get prompt approval codes to access care.
Healthcare service providers have been urged to report any Health Maintenance Organisation (HMO) that violates this initiative through an email, with the HMO in copy and a timestamp attached as evidence of the request. They may proceed to offer services to enrollees thereafter.
Speaking at the company’s second-quarter Providers’ Forum for the Lagos-Ogun region in Lagos recently, the chief executive of SUNU Health, Dr Moyosore Olomola, expressed optimism that this policy would improve healthcare delivery in the country, especially for enrollees, who crave quality service.
At the event themed Improving Quality and Access to Care Through Stronger Provider Network, and held at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in Yaba, Lagos, Mr Olomola reaffirmed the HMO’s commitment to operating within legal and operational frameworks to guarantee adequate care for enrollees.
“Access to care and quality of care remain key priorities in our healthcare systems. We know quite well that deliberate collaboration, strategic partnerships, and a shared commitment to excellence are required to achieve these priorities.
“A strong provider network is doubtless the backbone of any effective healthcare system. It ensures that our mutual enrollees receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place, and at the right price,” Mr Olomola, represented at the programme by the organisation’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Dr Faith Nwachi, stated.
He further assured that SUNU Health would strictly adhere to the one-hour authorisation limit, stressing that this aligns seamlessly with one of the organisation’s core values—promptness and its corporate slogan, Humanity is the centre of our initiatives.
In a bid to further improve access and quality of care, SUNU Health also demonstrated its new operational software and Mobile app, aptly named SUNU Legacy.
Also speaking at the event, the NHIA Lagos State Coordinator (Ikeja), Dr Bethuel-Kasimu Abraham, noted that the forum’s expected outcome is to significantly reduce delays in accessing medical care.
Other key expectations include ensuring continuity of care, improving patient outcomes, and strengthening accountability among HMOs.
Addressing specific pain points faced by enrollees, the NHIA Ogun State Coordinator, Mr Dare Adefeso, acknowledged that the agency had received complaints regarding out-of-stock drugs and the discrimination of enrollees by certain providers.
He affirmed that the NHIA is actively addressing these issues, stressing that moving forward, every facility must ensure enrollees are properly catered to regardless of their status, provided they have an active health insurance plan.
Corroborating the long-standing legacy of SUNU Health, the Ogun State Director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Aishat Tiamiyu, shared that her agency is responsible for public information dissemination and has been enrolled with SUNU Health for over 25 years.
Commending the HMO’s stellar service over two decades, she called for the immediate enrollment of new NOA staff into the scheme.
The Providers’ Forum remains one of the strategic channels employed by SUNU Health to consistently engage healthcare providers, understand their operational challenges, introduce new software updates, and solidify partnerships aimed at fostering premium healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced the recall of a sexual enhancement product known as WAP Sensual Enhancement Capsules.
In a statement on Monday, the Nigerian agency disclosed that the recall is due to “undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients” in the product, whose country of origin is unknown, but is marketed and distributed online in the US through eBay.
It was emphasised that the recall is being “voluntarily” made by the manufacturer, Best Supplements Best Prices Company.
The detection of the undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients was made by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Laboratory analysis by the US FDA revealed that the product contained undeclared sildenafil, tadalafil, and flibanserin, which were not mentioned on the product label. Such substances may include phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors or related compounds commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, the statement by NAFDAC stated.
Sildenafil and tadalafil are ingredients in FDA-approved prescription drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It was noted that these undeclared ingredients may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs, such as nitroglycerin, and may lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. Consumers with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.
Flibanserin is the active ingredient in an FDA-approved prescription drug used to treat low sexual desire in women. Flibanserin can cause drowsiness, sedation, dangerously low blood pressure, and fainting, especially when combined with alcohol.
Consumers have been encouraged to report compromised products (medicines or medical devices) to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf******@********ov.ng.
