FG to expand diagnostic networks, launches lead elimination policy

The Federal Government has announced plans to expand Nigeria’s diagnostic and laboratory network for blood lead testing nationwide, as part of efforts to curb lead poisoning and enforce regulations on lead in paints, food, water, and consumer products.

Speaking in Abuja during the National Lead Poisoning Elimination Day, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, mentioned that the new framework would prioritise vulnerable populations, particularly children and pregnant women.

As part of this initiative, Prof. Pate maintained that the government would also launch the National Lead Elimination Policy and Strategic Plan, which outlined clear targets, funding mechanisms, and strategies to enhance diagnostic capacity, strengthen surveillance, and improve access to treatment across the country.

Pate, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, disclosed that the government would intensify surveillance and distribute chelating agents to high-risk areas to support treatment efforts.

He called for renewed national commitment to protect Nigerians, especially children, from what he described as a “silent but deadly” public health threat.

According to Pate, the ministry would train frontline health workers and state officials on early detection and community response, while sustaining public awareness campaigns on the dangers of lead exposure.

“Nigeria has suffered multiple lead poisoning outbreaks, including tragic incidents in Zamfara (2010), Niger (2015), and Sokoto State, where hundreds of children died due to unsafe mining and ore processing practices.”

“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that lead exposure causes about 47,000 deaths annually in Africa, resulting in an economic loss of approximately $135 billion in productivity each year.”

Pate described lead poisoning as “a serious public health emergency that undermines human capital development,” adding that lead was a potent neurotoxin that damages the brain and nervous system, reduces IQ, and contributes to hypertension, kidney failure, and reproductive disorders.

“There is no safe level of lead exposure, and the youngest among us are the most vulnerable,” he said, citing global data showing that one in every three children—about 850 million worldwide—has detectable blood lead levels.

He noted that the new policy and five-year plan would promote cross-sector collaboration among the Health, Environment, Mines and Steel Development, Agriculture, and Water Resources ministries for coordinated prevention and response.

The Federal Government had recently, inaugurated the National Inter-Agency Working Group on Lead Poisoning Elimination to strengthen surveillance and review regulatory frameworks.

“With support from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), laboratory equipment has been distributed to high-risk states to boost testing capacity, while treatment is being provided for children with elevated blood lead levels.”

According to the Minister, the federal government has also launched community sensitisation campaigns promoting preventive actions such as handwashing, safe water use, and dust control to minimise household exposure.

Director of Public Health, Dr. Godwin Ntadom, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting citizens, especially children, from lead poisoning, describing it as one of the most preventable yet under-recognised health threats in Nigeria.

“Over the years, painful outbreaks in Zamfara, Niger, and Sokoto have cost many young lives,” Ntadom said. “These experiences have strengthened our resolve to prevent recurrence through evidence-based policies and multi-sectoral collaboration.”

He emphasised that the ministry was partnering with state governments and development partners to implement the new policy, enhance laboratory infrastructure, and raise nationwide awareness about lead hazards.

A representative of the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), Ms. Gegewa Maka, said the organisation had worked with Nigerian authorities for over a decade to improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

She added that CHAI recently conducted a national study assessing exposure levels and response gaps, forming the foundation for the new national roadmap on lead prevention.

“This year’s theme, ‘No Safe Level,’ underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to end lead exposure,” by reaffirming CHAI’s commitment to supporting the government in strengthening inter-ministerial governance and data-driven response systems.