By Chidinma Chukwu, Abuja

The Federal Government has launched a five-year strategic plan to prevent and eliminate lead poisoning in Nigeria, amid concerns that an estimated 80 million children are exposed to the toxic substance.

The National Lead Poisoning Elimination Strategic Plan 2026–2030 provides a framework for strengthening surveillance, tackling environmental and occupational sources of exposure, enforcing regulations and protecting vulnerable populations.

The plan was unveiled in Abuja on Wednesday during a ministerial press briefing and high-level stakeholders’ dialogue to mark the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, themed, “From Detection to Prevention: Acting Together to End Lead Exposure in Nigeria.”

Speaking at the event, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, said the initiative marked a shift from responding to cases of lead poisoning to preventing exposure at its source.

“Lead poisoning remains an important public health and environmental challenge in Nigeria, with an estimated 80 million children exposed. It is a toxic substance capable of affecting multiple body systems, with children, women of childbearing age and pregnant women being particularly vulnerable,” he said.

Salako warned that exposure could have serious and lasting health consequences, even when affected individuals showed no immediate symptoms.

He said prevention, early identification and timely intervention were therefore essential to reducing the health risks associated with lead exposure.

The minister stressed that medical treatment alone could not eliminate the threat, calling for coordinated efforts to identify and address sources of contamination.

Citing investigations in Lagos, Sokoto, Ogun and other affected areas, he said lead exposure occurred under different circumstances, requiring interventions tailored to the specific conditions in affected states.

Salako identified the development of state-specific lead prevention and control action plans for Lagos, Borno, Osun and Sokoto as a priority under the national framework.

“These plans will reflect the specific sources and pathways of exposure within each state while remaining aligned with the national framework,” he said.

He described the finalisation of the Lagos State Action Plan, informed by blood lead-level findings and environmental health assessments, as particularly important.

The minister also called for stronger environmental surveillance of soil, dust, water and industrial emissions, alongside closer monitoring of products and commodities that could contain lead.

He urged ministries, departments and agencies, state governments, development partners, industries, civil society organisations and community groups to work together to ensure the full implementation of the strategic plan.

Salako said community participation was essential to preventing exposure, stressing that efforts must extend beyond government institutions to involve society as a whole.

To reduce exposure at home, he advised workers in construction, painting and recycling to wear appropriate protective clothing and remove their work clothes and shoes before entering their homes to prevent contaminated materials from spreading into living spaces.

He also recommended regular handwashing, washing children’s toys, wet-wiping household surfaces and keeping play areas clean.

According to him, wet cleaning is preferable to dry sweeping because it helps prevent contaminated dust from becoming airborne.