A picture shows the feet of a patient who uses the injectable “Kenacort” corticosteroid to lighten her skin (Photo by SIA KAMBOU / AFP).
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned that its efforts to safeguard Nigerians’ health are being undermined by a “dangerous tide” of rampant bleaching cream use. Earlier, NAFDAC declared a state of emergency on bleaching after finding that Nigeria ranked first in bleaching cases among African countries.
Speaking in Jos on Friday at the launch of the North Central Zonal Media Sensitisation workshop on the dangers of bleaching creams, NAFDAC Director‑General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye condemned the widespread use of these products, especially among women, despite the known health risks. She attributed the problem to a lack of public awareness and urged the media to help educate citizens so they do not endanger their lives.
Adeyeye emphasized that, just as people should avoid harmful foods, they should also avoid creams that can cause future health problems. She listed the harmful effects of bleaching creams, including cancer, damage to vital organs, skin irritation and allergies, burns and rashes, wrinkles, premature aging, and delayed wound healing. A 2018 World Health Organization study found that 77 % of Nigerian women use skin‑bleaching creams—the highest rate in Africa—compared with 59 % in Togo, 35 % in South Africa, and 27 % in Senegal. This alarming statistic shows that bleaching creams have become a national health emergency requiring a multifaceted regulatory response.
Represented at the event by Dr. Leonard Omokpariola, Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, the Director‑General outlined NAFDAC’s multi‑pronged strategy, which includes consultative and sensitisation meetings and intensified raids on outlets distributing bleaching creams. She called for collaboration and support to help NAFDAC eliminate substandard and falsified medicines, unsafe foods, corrosive cosmetics, and other substandard regulated products from the market.
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