35 Laboratory Experts Trained to Strengthen Nigeria’s Fight Against Environmental Lead Poisoning
In a renewed effort to curb the growing threat of lead poisoning in Nigeria, 35 laboratory experts from diverse industries, government agencies, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies have completed an intensive two-day training on field testing and reporting. The capacity-building workshop, hosted at the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) Laboratory Complex in Lagos, was jointly organised by SON and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) Nigeria, as part of a broader strategy to strengthen national laboratory surveillance systems and enhance environmental safety.
The training focused on equipping participants with advanced knowledge and hands-on skills in the safe and effective use of X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, a globally recognised tool for rapid lead detection in consumer products, soils, paints, and other environmental samples. By improving data collection, analysis, and reporting using XRF technology, the programme aims to support Nigeria’s regulatory drive to identify high-risk products and eliminate sources of lead exposure that threaten public health—especially among children.
Mr. Adetoyi Adeyinka, Deputy Director of Laboratory Services and Head of Operation Laboratory at SON, said the training could not have come at a better time. He explained that the country continues to record red flags in lead contamination, particularly in consumer goods such as children’s toys, paints, and certain cosmetic products. He stressed that the workshop was part of SON’s proactive measures to build the expertise needed to detect, trace, and eliminate harmful levels of lead before enforcement actions intensify nationwide.
According to him, the organisation is deeply concerned about the persistence of lead in widely used products. He highlighted examples such as lipsticks with high lead concentration and traditional eye cosmetics like “tiro”, noting that these products pose severe health risks, including neurological damage, developmental delays in children, kidney problems, and reproductive complications.
“This training is to ensure that laboratory personnel understand what is expected of them when they encounter products with high lead levels,” he said. “The goal is to equip them with the right techniques to identify, report, and help eliminate lead completely from the market. Once this baseline is achieved, enforcement will follow with full force to protect Nigerians.”
He added that SON is also extending awareness to the grassroots, educating families, market women, and small-scale manufacturers on the dangers of lead-containing products. The organisation believes that eliminating lead poisoning requires not only strong technical capacity but also community-level knowledge and behaviour change.
Officials from Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria emphasized the importance of building sustainable national capacity for environmental surveillance, noting that reducing lead exposure is critical for public health and economic development. They reiterated their commitment to supporting Nigeria in adopting global best practices that reduce toxic exposures and strengthen regulatory systems.
The 35 participants expressed gratitude for the training, describing it as timely, practical, and essential for their professional work. Many participants noted that the hands-on sessions with XRF devices, coupled with guidance on international reporting standards, significantly enhanced their ability to contribute to Nigeria’s environmental safety goals.
As Nigeria continues to battle the silent but dangerous threat of lead poisoning, the collaboration between SON and Resolve to Save Lives represents a pivotal step toward ensuring safer products, healthier communities, and a more robust national monitoring framework.
