Two of Nigeria’s states, Kano and Lagos, are suing British American Tobacco in order to recover the costs incurred by smoking-induced diseases, seeking damages of US $38.6 billion (£19.4 billion).

Kano and Lagos, joined by another state, Gombe, and a nonprofit organisation, have also accused BAT of targeting young and underage smokers and of promoting the sale of individual cigarettes, which they claim reduces the effectiveness of mandatory health warnings.
The states are suing BAT Nigeria and its parent company in Britain, which have strongly denied the allegations. BAT claims a 75 per cent market share in Nigeria.