Nigerian Health Experts Raise Alarm Over Lead Poisoning, Urge Government Action
Millions of Nigerians, particularly children and pregnant women, are at risk of lead poisoning, despite ongoing efforts to eliminate exposure to the toxic metal. This warning was issued during the 13th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, held at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. The event brought together representatives from the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and other development partners, who reiterated their commitment to a lead-free Nigeria.
According to Minister of Environment Balarabe Abbas Lawal, even minimal exposure to lead can cause lasting harm, especially to children. The Nigerian government aims to completely phase out lead-based paints by 2030 through stronger regulation, enforcement, and public awareness. Lead poisoning is a preventable environmental health problem that affects millions globally, particularly children under five. It can cause irreversible neurological damage, learning disabilities, and reduced IQ in children, as well as hypertension, kidney damage, and reproductive problems in adults.
Many Nigerians, especially in rural and mining communities, remain at risk due to contaminated soils, unsafe mining and recycling practices, and the continued use of lead-based paints and cosmetics. The Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, described lead poisoning as a “silent threat” undermining national productivity and human development. One in three children globally has blood lead levels requiring urgent action, with many paints in the Nigerian market still containing lead levels exceeding safe limits.
Experts are calling for sustained multi-sectoral collaboration to address the issue. Nanlop Ogbureke, Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives, commended the Ministry’s leadership and emphasized the need for collective action to ensure safer environments and healthier children. Global data shows that over 1.5 million deaths were attributed to lead exposure in 2021, mostly from cardiovascular causes. The Nigerian government is being urged to intensify public education campaigns, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote cleaner production methods across the paint, battery, and mining sectors to mitigate the risks of lead poisoning.