Public analysts have urged the Federal Government to immediately reconstitute the Governing Council of the Institute of Public Analysts of Nigeria (IPAN) to restore regulatory order, strengthen institutional direction, and safeguard product testing standards across the country.
The call came during the 32nd Mandatory Continuous Professional Development (MCPD) Workshop of the Institute, held in Lagos with the theme “Testing for Cosmetic Safety and Efficacy: Balancing Consumer Demands, Public Health, and Regulatory Standards.” The workshop brought together regulators, scientists, academics, industry leaders, and policymakers to deliberate on how to ensure product safety in Nigeria’s fast-growing cosmetics and personal care sector.
In his welcome address, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of IPAN, Aliyu Abdullah Angara, said the workshop was designed to strengthen the analytical and regulatory capacity of public analysts in line with global best practices. He noted that the forum was a continuation of the momentum generated by the recent National Stakeholders’ Summit on the Analytical Laboratory Sector, which focused on strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory framework and compliance systems.
Angara, who also served as President of the Society of Testing Laboratory Analysts of Nigeria (SoTLAN) and Chairman of the dissolved IPAN Council, said the absence of an inaugurated governing council has stalled several critical regulatory functions of the Institute. He explained that the council, which was dissolved along with others nationwide nearly three years ago, remains vital to the effective operation of IPAN as provided by law.
“Two to three years is long enough to keep such a statutory body from functioning. The council must be reconstituted to uphold the provisions of the law and ensure the Institute operates effectively,” he said.
He added that while IPAN’s management had kept the Institute functional, many statutory issues such as membership approvals, examinations, and capacity-building for enforcement agencies had been delayed.
In his remarks, the President of SoTLAN, Mr. Gbolahan Bolawa, described the absence of a functional IPAN Council as a major challenge that continues to weaken professional accountability and institutional direction within Nigeria’s analytical sector. He appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Minister of State for Health to urgently inaugurate the council in accordance with the IPAN Act.
“Strong institutions and clear regulatory frameworks are the foundation of public trust, industrial progress, and consumer safety,” he said.
He also urged the government to clearly define the professional boundaries between IPAN and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), emphasizing that testing and certification are distinct responsibilities that should not overlap.
Delivering the keynote lecture, the Dean, Faculty of Physical and Earth Sciences, University of Lagos, Professor Olayinka Asekun, called for harmonised regulatory frameworks to strengthen product safety testing and consumer protection. She warned that while Africa’s beauty and personal care market is projected to hit $70 billion by 2025, weak regulation, overlapping mandates, and the influx of substandard cosmetics threaten public health.
“Cosmetic safety begins from formulation to market testing. Producers must carry out toxicological profiling, stability testing, microbial checks, and preservative efficacy tests to ensure products are safe. The absence of proper regulation exposes consumers to health hazards, from skin irritation to long-term toxic effects.”
She also noted that the rising preference for local beauty products demands stricter safety and efficacy standards to boost confidence in Nigerian-made goods. According to her, “A harmonised testing system will enable African producers to meet cross-border trade requirements under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) while protecting consumers.”
