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Health and environmental experts have raised fresh concerns that lead poisoning continues to endanger millions of Nigerians, particularly children and pregnant women, despite ongoing efforts to eliminate exposure to the toxic metal.
The warning was issued on Thursday during the commemoration of the 13th International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) held at the Federal Ministry of Environment in Abuja. The event, themed “No Safe Level: Act Now to End Lead Exposure,” brought together representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and other development partners, who renewed their commitment to a lead-free Nigeria.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminate lead exposure from paints, batteries, and consumer products through stronger regulation, enforcement, and public awareness.
“Even minute exposure can cause lasting harm, especially to children whose developing brains and nervous systems are most vulnerable,” Lawal said, noting that Nigeria’s National Lead-Free Initiative aims to completely phase out lead-based paints by 2030.
He added that lead poisoning remains one of the world’s most preventable environmental health problems, yet it continues to affect millions globally, particularly children under five.
According to him, lead exposure has been scientifically proven to cause irreversible neurological damage, learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, anemia, and reduced IQ in children. Adults exposed to lead may suffer from hypertension, kidney damage, reproductive problems, or death, while pregnant women face increased risks of miscarriage and developmental delays in their babies.
The minister also lamented that many Nigerians, particularly 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.
“Prevention remains our strongest tool,” he stressed. “By eliminating lead at its source, in paints, batteries, ceramics, and consumer goods, we can protect our children and secure a healthier environment for all.”
The Director of Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Bahijjahtu Hadiza Abubakar, described lead poisoning as a “silent threat” undermining national productivity and human development.
She said that one in three children globally, up to 800 million, has blood lead levels at or above 5 micrograms per decilitre (µg/dL), a threshold requiring urgent global action.
“Despite progress, many paints in the Nigerian market still contain lead levels exceeding 600 µg/g due to limited awareness and weak enforcement,” she said. “Continuous education, advocacy, and collaboration are critical to changing this reality.”
In a goodwill message, Nanlop Ogbureke, Executive Director of Resolve to Save Lives (Nigeria), commended the Ministry’s leadership and called for sustained multi-sectoral collaboration.
“No child should lose their future because of avoidable exposure to a toxic substance,” Ogbureke said. “Lead poisoning is entirely preventable. Together, we can ensure safer environments, healthier children, and stronger national productivity.”
According to global data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), over 1.5 million deaths were attributed to lead exposure in 2021, mostly from cardiovascular causes. In Nigeria, the lingering effects of past lead poisoning outbreaks in Zamfara and Niger States continue to highlight the urgent need for action.
Experts at the event urged the Federal Government to intensify public education campaigns, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and promote cleaner production methods across the paint, battery, and mining sectors.
Lead poisoning still endangers millions in Nigeria – Experts raise alarm
