Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) partnered with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the development of the National Policy on Cosmetic Safety and Health, a major step toward protecting consumers by reducing exposure to toxic substances such as lead in cosmetic products.
Lead poisoning remains a serious public health concern, with Africa recording an estimated 47,000 deaths annually from lead exposure, costing the continent about $135 billion in lost productivity each year. Nigeria has also witnessed devastating lead poisoning outbreaks, including in Zamfara State in 2010, where more than 400 children died, and in Niger State in 2015. Cases were also reported in Zamfara and Sokoto States in 2024.
At a five-day workshop in Lagos, stakeholders from government agencies, regulatory bodies, academia, the private sector, and development partners conducted a comprehensive technical review of the draft policy. The workshop provided a platform to refine the policy’s structure, implementation framework, and alignment with international best practices.
The policy will be launched at the 66th National Council on Health, scheduled to take place in Calabar, Cross River State, from November 17–21, 2025. Once launched, the next steps will include the dissemination of the policy, the development of an action plan, and coordinated implementation at both national and subnational levels.
Upon implementation, the policy will help Nigeria build a robust and responsive regulatory system that protects health, supports local industry competitiveness, and ensures that cosmetic products manufactured for both domestic and export markets meet globally recognized safety and quality standards.
RTSL is working alongside the Nigerian government and local partners to prototype a national model to reduce lead exposure from cosmetics, while also strengthening surveillance, regulation, and broader government capacity to protect communities from hazardous substances.