An estimated 80 million children in Nigeria are exposed to lead, raising concerns over the long-term effects of the toxic metal on children’s health and development.
The Federal Government has called for stronger prevention measures, warning that lead exposure can occur in everyday environments and often goes undetected because affected individuals may show no obvious symptoms.
Speaking on the need to prevent lead poisoning, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, urged households to adopt simple hygiene practices to reduce children’s exposure.
He advised families to wash their hands regularly, clean children’s toys and wet-mop floors and play areas instead of sweeping them dry.
He also urged people involved in construction, painting and recycling activities that may expose them to lead-containing materials to wear appropriate protective clothing.
On nutrition, Salako recommended foods rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C, which can help reduce the body’s absorption of lead.
“Eating nutrient-dense foods high in calcium, iron and Vitamin C, which block the body from absorbing lead,” he said.
The minister identified several potential sources of exposure, including lead-glazed pottery, toys, cosmetics such as traditional eyeliner known as tiro, and some traditional remedies.
Other sources include dust from lead-based paints, contaminated soil, unsafe water pipes and inadequate safety practices in workplaces where lead-containing materials are handled.
He warned that children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age were particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of exposure.
Lead is “a toxic substance capable of affecting multiple body systems, with children, women of childbearing age and pregnant women being particularly vulnerable,” he said.
Salako noted that people could be exposed to lead without displaying clear symptoms, making early detection and preventive action essential.
UNICEF, Health Partners Call for Stronger Prevention
UNICEF consultant, Dr Sarah Ango, described lead poisoning as a preventable but often invisible threat, stressing that no level of lead exposure is safe for children.
She said UNICEF was committed to ending childhood lead poisoning by 2040 and was supporting the Nigerian Government in strengthening surveillance, laboratory capacity, risk communication and policy responses.
Ango said the annual commemoration provided an opportunity to move beyond identifying lead exposure and focus on practical interventions to address its underlying causes.
“This year’s commemoration, under the theme From Detection to Prevention, provides an opportunity to move beyond identifying the problem to accelerating practical solutions that address the root causes of lead exposure,” she said.
Similarly, the Principal Adviser at Resolve to Save Lives, Mrs Okeoma Obasi, described prevention as the most effective and cost-effective way to protect children from lead poisoning.
She said her organization had supported efforts to strengthen surveillance systems, testing laboratories, research and public awareness campaigns.
Government Unveils Five-Year Strategic Plan
As part of its response, Salako announced the establishment of an Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Elimination.
The group brings together ministries, departments and agencies, development partners and other stakeholders to coordinate national efforts towards reducing and eliminating lead exposure.
He also launched the Five-Year Strategic Plan on Lead Poisoning Elimination in Nigeria for 2026 to 2030.
According to the minister, a costed three-year national roadmap is being developed to translate the plan’s priorities into specific actions and timelines.
Salako identified Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara as states where different sources of lead exposure had emerged, stressing that each required targeted interventions based on its particular risks.
He cited environmental investigations in Lagos and concerns over battery recycling activities in Ogijo, Ogun State, as examples of areas requiring stronger environmental and workplace controls.
“We cannot treat our way out of lead poisoning; we must prevent exposure wherever possible,” he said.
The minister listed the monitoring of soil, dust, water, industrial emissions and consumer products among the government’s priorities.
He also called for stronger regulation and enforcement, improved laboratory capacity and increased public awareness.
Salako urged the governments of Lagos, Ogun, Zamfara and Sokoto to develop state-specific lead poisoning prevention and control plans, while encouraging communities to help identify potential sources of exposure in their surroundings.
The International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week was observed from October 18 to 24, with activities aimed at raising awareness of the dangers of lead exposure and encouraging practical measures to eliminate it, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
By Umm e Habiba Pakistan
