Stakeholders in the paint industry have decried the hazardous effect of lead paint pigment in humans, especially in children, and resolved to eliminate it from the country.

The stakeholders gave the resolution at a one-day inception, awareness-raising workshop, and a launch of a project in Lagos.

The workshop in commemoration of the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) is aimed to draw every year the interest of the world and people’s consciousness towards lead poisoning.

The workshop organised by Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADeV Nigeria), under the auspices of Lead Exposure Elimination Project (LEEP, UK) with the theme ‘Strengthening National Capacity Towards Eliminating of Lead In Nigeria’ had the Ministry of Environment, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) among others.

SRADeV Executive Director, Dr. Leslie Adogame, explained that lead poisoning is an environmental issue that nobody pays attention to and emphasised the need for projects that will help Nigerians move away from lead paint.

He lamented that the government has not been able to regulate the use of lead paint. “Regulation is still not there and it is appalling. It is sickening that at this time, we still don’t have the regulation on paint.

“ It’s unfortunate that two years ago, a draft regulation was put in place by the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), but up till now, nothing has been done.

“The government has not been able to pass it into law. So, we are still using this event to raise awareness that the hazardous chemicals regulation needs to be passed into law immediately by the government.”

The hazardous chemicals law, Adogame noted, comprises mercury, pesticides, and lead paint, which is a hazardous chemical that is killing children in Nigeria.

The focal person for Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) from the Ministry of Environment, Kola Oladele, noted that the programme is to create awareness of the deleterious effects of lead, especially on children and pregnant women.

He added that children don’t have the capacity to handle lead as compared to adults.

“What we have done is to create awareness on the dangers that inherit in lead paint and create awareness on the sustainable alternatives that are there to replace it. We are working together with SRADEV to sensitise people with the reformulation aspects of lead,” he said.

The Chief Executive Officer, Fundamental Technology Limited, makers of Funda Paints, Mr. Tijani Abdulgafa, explained that lead is a castrogenic pigment in paints.

He said that paint manufacturers working with SRADEV, started the process of eliminating and reducing it to the barest minimum to compete with the world standard.