FG Launches National Working Group to Tackle Lead Poisoning

The Federal Government has inaugurated a National Interagency Working Group to tackle the rising threat of lead poisoning in Nigeria.

The move, announced through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, is part of efforts to eliminate the public health crisis, which has claimed lives and left lasting impacts in several communities.

Speaking at a workshop in Abuja to finalize and validate the Five-Year National Strategic Plan on Lead Poisoning Elimination, officials stressed the urgency of government action. The initiative, supported by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), includes the provision of laboratory equipment to boost active surveillance, soil remediation, and community education.

Nigeria has a troubling history of lead poisoning outbreaks. In 2010, more than 400 children died in Zamfara State, while another outbreak in Niger State in 2015 left many disabled. More recently, fresh cases were reported in Zamfara and Sokoto States in 2024.

Authorities say the new plan aims to ensure coordinated national response, prevent future outbreaks, and protect vulnerable communities, particularly children.