Nigeria's government is suing three international tobacco firms for $44bn (£22bn) - the first such case in the developing world - due to start in the capital, Abuja, according to an article in the BBC news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7183018.stm).

It says tobacco manufacturers are putting unacceptable pressure on the country's health services, and companies are targeting younger and younger people in an attempt to replace former smokers in Europe and America.

British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris and International Tobacco Ltd, deny the claims and say they are socially responsible companies who do not target children. They question the massive sums demanded by the government and say the case "has no merit."

According to the government, e-mails between tobacco firm employees to be shown to the court will reveal deliberate attempts to increase the number of "young and underage" smokers and attempts to influence lawmakers to keep tobacco sales unregulated. Cigarette smoking is widespread in Nigeria and BAT recently set up a factory in the West African country. Campaigners in Nigeria say children are sent positive messages about smoking all the time, and young people across Nigeria can buy cigarettes from vendors in single "sticks", which campaigners say makes it easier for young people to pick up the habit. The World Health Organization estimates that 18% of young Nigerians smoke - storing up huge potential health problems in a country of 140 million people, most of whom are under 20.