Editor
The Nigerian Government has expressed its intention to collaborate with international organizations in spearheading a global initiative against lead poisoning to safeguard the lives of vulnerable citizens.
During an event at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, affirmed Nigeria’s dedication to supporting the worldwide effort against lead poisoning to protect the well-being of at-risk individuals.
In a comprehensive review of the lead campaign exhibition at the Lead-Free Future event organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Alake unveiled plans to acquire additional equipment for detecting lead in communities affected by lead poisoning.
Dr. Alake stressed the importance of raising awareness about the dangers faced by individuals involved in mining activities for gold and other minerals, highlighting that the removal of lead from communities would lead to the restoration of both child and maternal health.
He underscored the necessity of integrating lead reduction into the local value addition process advocated by the Ministry.
Upon the Minister’s visit to the exhibition, Dr. Casey Bartrem, the USAID representative, commended the minister’s dedication, showcasing rock samples obtained from Zamfara State in Nigeria during the cleanup following a lead poisoning incident.
Dr. Bartrem expressed the hope for collaboration between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD) in mitigating lead levels in mineral extraction and processing activities.
