Editor
Sustainable Research and Action for Environmental Development (SRADev) and its partners have advocated for the total elimination of the use of Lead in the manufacturing of paints in Nigeria.
The stakeholders made this known at recent event organised by the SRADev) and its partners in Lagos.
The workshop is is titled: “Strengthening National Capacity Towards Elimination of Lead Paint in Nigeria.”
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of SRADev, Dr. Leslie Adogame said that the clamour for the elimination of Lead from paint manufacturing resulted from its attendant health risks.
Adogame said that Lead paint poses significant health risks, especially to children, including neurological damage and developmental delays.
According to him, efforts to eliminate lead paint are critical to safeguarding public health and ensuring a sustainable environment.
He added that Strengthening national capacity involves implementing regulatory measures, enhancing public awareness, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders.
He said that the technical committee component of the Lead exposure elimination project has agreed that all paints manufactured in Nigeria going forward would carry “No Added Lead”
He said that the resolution is a big win because anybody going to the market to buy paint shound look for the poaint with the label, “No added Lead.”
He said that the focus is SMEs since they are the once who use all manners of additives, cutting corners in the paint manufacturing process.
The executive director said that there is a standard to be adopted in paints manufacturing now (90 parts per million) and buyers of paints should go for ‘No added Lead’ on the paint label before purchase.
Also speaking, Mr. Abimbolu Babatunde, Chairman, Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMAN) adviced informal paint manufacturers to desist from using lead additives in the process of paint manufacturing.
The workshop was organised by SRADev in partnership with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) and the Paints Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
