By Joy Odor Reportcircle News
The Federal Government has launched a sweeping crackdown on unsafe cosmetic products, inaugurating a high-powered national task force to confront what officials now describe as one of Nigeria’s most dangerous but least recognised public health threats.
At a ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, working with development partners, formally inaugurated the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group (NCSM-TWG), signalling a shift from policy talk to boots-on-the-ground enforcement in the regulation of cosmetics across the country.
Government officials said the move was aimed at halting the flood of substandard and toxic cosmetic products that have quietly exposed millions of Nigerians to serious health risks, including kidney failure, hormonal disorders and cancer.
Speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, Senior Technical Assistant to the Permanent Secretary, Dr Dogara Okara, warned that unsafe cosmetics have emerged as a 21st-century public health crisis hiding in plain sight.
According to him, many cosmetic products in circulation contain dangerous substances such as formaldehyde and heavy metals that can damage vital organs including the kidneys, heart and eyes.
“These products may look harmless, but their long-term effects are devastating,” he said. “Skin disorders, discoloration, hormonal disruption, kidney failure and cancer are some of the consequences.
This informed the Federal Government’s decision to put in place a clear national policy to protect Nigerians.”
He explained that the inauguration of the Technical Working Group was anchored on the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, which was approved and formally launched at the 66th National Council on Health meeting in Calabar in November 2025.
Under its mandate, the NCSM-TWG will provide technical and strategic guidance for policy implementation, coordinate cosmetics safety initiatives across sectors, translate directives from the National Multi-Sectoral Ministerial Advisory Committee on Cosmetics into action, and support the review and enforcement of safety standards nationwide.
Kachollom said the composition of the committee drawn from government, regulatory agencies, academia, civil society and development partners reflected the seriousness of the assignment, noting that members would serve a five-year term.
Earlier, the Director and Head of the Food and Drug Services Department of the Ministry, Mrs Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, said the inaugural meeting marked the beginning of coordinated technical engagement under the new policy.
She noted that the forum was designed to align expertise, clarify expectations and set priority actions to ensure effective implementation rather than another policy document gathering dust.
Chairman of the Technical Working Group and Director of the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme, Dr Paul Okhakhu, traced the country’s cosmetics crisis to years of weak coordination and absence of a unified regulatory framework.
“Improperly formulated cosmetics can disrupt the endocrine system, damage the kidneys and even affect unborn children,” he said.
“The lack of a coordinated policy allowed unsafe products to thrive.
This initiative aligns Nigeria with global best practices and provides clear guidance for producers, regulators and consumers.”
Okhakhu said Nigerians should expect tougher regulation, improved labelling, increased public awareness and safer cosmetic products between 2026 and 2030.
Development partners also threw their weight behind the initiative.
In a goodwill message, the World Health Organization (WHO), represented by Dr Edwin Isotu Edeh, described the policy as “pro-health, pro-industry and pro-Africa,” warning that unregulated cosmetic production, especially within the informal sector, poses silent but generational health risks.
On enforcement, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said implementation has already begun.
Speaking for the agency, Prince Ikenna Usofor, Director in charge of Imported and Locally Manufactured Cosmetics, declared that no cosmetic product local or foreign would be allowed into the Nigerian market without regulatory clearance.
“This policy will not be left on the shelf,” Usofor said. “Cosmetics containing mercury, lead and excessive fluoride expose users to long-term health conditions such as kidney failure and hormonal imbalance. Every product in circulation must meet safety standards.”
Adding another layer of urgency, Resolve to Save Lives described the policy as a long-awaited intervention that closes a major regulatory gap.
Country Representative Nanlop Ogbureke said cosmetics safety sits at the intersection of public health, consumer protection and economic development, noting that Nigeria’s approach could become a model for other African countries.
The organisation pledged continued technical support, saying the Technical Working Group provides the foundation for sustained impact and a safer cosmetics market.
Membership of the NCSM-TWG cuts across key ministries Health, Environment, Industry, Trade and Investment regulatory bodies such as NAFDAC, law enforcement agencies, universities and development partners including WHO and Resolve to Save Lives.
With the task force now in place, the Federal Government says Nigeria is better positioned to flush out toxic cosmetic products and protect public health through coordinated, evidence-driven regulation ending an era where beauty came at a hidden cost to health.
