FG Launches Five-Year Strategic Plan to Eliminate Lead Poisoning in Nigeria
The Federal Government has launched a Five-Year Strategic Plan on Lead Poisoning Elimination in Nigeria to strengthen prevention, improve surveillance and enforcement, and coordinate efforts to protect Nigerians from the dangers of lead exposure.
The Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, announced the launch on Wednesday during the commemoration of the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Abuja, themed “From Detection to Prevention.”
Dr. Salako described lead poisoning as a major public health and environmental concern, warning that children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age are particularly vulnerable to its harmful effects.
He emphasised the need to shift from merely identifying cases of lead poisoning to preventing exposure by tackling its sources.
The Minister identified the establishment and operationalisation of the Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Prevention and Elimination as a significant step towards improving collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners and other relevant stakeholders.
He also highlighted experiences from Lagos, Ogun, Sokoto and Zamfara States, noting that differences in the sources and pathways of lead exposure require interventions tailored to the specific circumstances of each state.
According to him, developing state-specific lead prevention and control action plans for the four states is a priority, with the plans expected to align with the national framework while addressing local challenges.
Dr. Salako particularly stressed the importance of finalising the Lagos State action plan, informed by the state’s existing blood lead level and children’s environmental health assessment.
He explained that the Five-Year Strategic Plan would provide a national framework for coordinated, multisectoral interventions, including improved environmental and occupational surveillance, stronger laboratory and institutional capacity, effective regulation and enforcement, and clearer referral pathways for people identified with elevated blood lead levels.
The Minister added that a costed three-year national roadmap was also being developed to translate the strategic plan into measurable interventions with clear timelines.
He called on state governments, development partners, industries, civil society organisations, professional bodies, traditional and religious leaders, communities and the media to support the adoption and implementation of the plan.
“Communities are central to prevention, and our efforts must extend beyond government institutions to all of society. Traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations, professional bodies, researchers, industries, community-based organisations and the media all have critical roles to play,” Salako said.
The Minister also urged Nigerians to adopt practical measures to minimise exposure to lead, including avoiding contaminated soil and dust, using lead-safe products and observing appropriate protective practices during battery recycling, painting and other high-risk activities.
He further advised households to keep work clothes and footwear away from living spaces, clean floors and children’s play areas with wet methods, and maintain diets rich in calcium, iron and vitamin C.
Reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to eliminating lead poisoning, Dr. Salako called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that scientific evidence informs policies and that policies translate into practical action.
He stressed that prevention must remain central to protecting children, safeguarding communities and reducing the health consequences of lead exposure.
“The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare remains committed to providing the needed leadership and working closely with all relevant stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria moves decisively from a predominantly reactive response to a comprehensive, preventive and sustainable approach to lead poisoning,” he said.
