FG Launches Bold Plan To Protect Children From Lead Poisoning
Princess-Ekwi Ajide
Children playing in contaminated soil, breathing in lead-laced dust or coming into contact with unsafe products face a potentially lifelong health risk.
The Federal Government is now seeking to tackle the danger through a five-year plan to eliminate lead poisoning in Nigeria.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the initiative on Wednesday in Abuja during the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, themed “From Detection to Prevention.”
Salako warned that children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age were particularly vulnerable to lead exposure, stressing that Nigeria must shift from detecting cases to preventing poisoning at its source.
The strategy will strengthen environmental and occupational surveillance, improve laboratory capacity, tighten regulatory enforcement and establish clearer referral pathways for people with elevated blood lead levels.
It will also coordinate action across government agencies and other stakeholders through an Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Elimination.
Salako identified Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara as states requiring tailored interventions, with state-specific action plans designed to address local sources and pathways of exposure.
He said a costed three-year national roadmap was also being developed to translate the five-year strategy into measurable interventions with clear timelines.
Beyond government action, the minister called on industries, state governments, development partners, civil society groups, traditional and religious leaders and the media to support implementation.
He urged Nigerians to avoid contaminated soil and dust, use lead-safe products and take precautions during battery recycling, painting and other activities that could expose them to lead.
Workers in high-risk occupations were advised to keep contaminated work clothes and footwear away from living areas, while households were encouraged to clean floors and children’s play areas with wet methods to reduce dust.
Salako also recommended diets rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C as part of efforts to reduce the health risks associated with exposure.
“Communities are central to prevention, and our efforts must extend beyond government institutions to all of society,” he said.
The Federal Government says the plan is intended to protect children, safeguard communities and reduce the health consequences of lead exposure nationwide.
Its success, however, will depend on how quickly the proposed roadmap is implemented, regulations are enforced and state-level interventions reach communities at risk.
Join Our WhatsApp Community
