The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health by eliminating substandard cosmetic products and ensuring that all cosmetics used in Nigeria meet approved safety standards.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja at the inauguration of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health. She was represented at the event by a Senior Technical Assistant, Dogara Okara.
Ms Kachollom said the policy was introduced to address growing health risks linked to unsafe cosmetic products amid the rapid expansion of Nigeria’s beauty and personal care industry. According to her, the increasing circulation of harmful cosmetics across the country has exposed consumers to serious short- and long-term health risks.
She described unsafe cosmetics as a major public health threat globally in the 21st century, with consequences ranging from skin diseases to cancer, hormonal disorders and kidney damage. She explained that many cosmetic products contain toxic substances, including formaldehyde and heavy metals, which can damage vital organs, making urgent government intervention necessary.
The policy, she noted, provides a legal and institutional framework for cosmetic safety management and establishes the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group. According to her, the framework ensures that cosmetics manufactured, imported, distributed and used in Nigeria comply with approved safety standards and align with global best practices.
Ms Kachollom added that members of the Technical Working Group were drawn from government institutions, regulatory agencies, academia, development partners and civil society organisations to ensure coordinated and effective implementation.
Also speaking, the Director of the Cosmetic Safety Management Programme, Paul Okhakhu, said the policy was a response to the rising number of adverse cosmetic-related incidents reported across the country. He noted that despite widespread use of cosmetic products by Nigerians, there had previously been no comprehensive national policy to regulate their safety.
Mr Okhakhu explained that the absence of clear guidelines allowed unsafe practices to flourish, exposing consumers to preventable health risks. He warned that improperly formulated cosmetics could lead to kidney failure, liver damage, hormonal disruption and developmental abnormalities in unborn children. According to him, the new policy sets clear production standards and aligns Nigeria’s cosmetic industry with international best practices.
He added that the policy serves as a guide for producers, consumers and regulators, while strengthening the enforcement roles of agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Cosmetic Safety as Public Health Priority
On regulation, the Deputy Director and Head of the Cosmetics and Household Products Department at NAFDAC, Princewill Nsofor, said cosmetic safety must now be treated as a major public health priority. He noted that cosmetics, due to their daily use, pose higher cumulative exposure risks than pharmaceutical products, which are typically taken for shorter periods under prescription.
Mr Nsofor disclosed that enforcement activities had already commenced, covering both imported and locally manufactured cosmetic products. He stressed the importance of moving beyond policy formulation to effective implementation, cautioning against weak enforcement.
Development partners also expressed support for the initiative. The Principal Adviser at Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria, Okeoma Obasi, commended the ministry for bringing together experts across sectors. She noted that integrating public health protection with the cosmetic industry’s economic value chain would strengthen governance and position Nigeria as a global example.
From an international perspective, Edwin Edeh, Public Health and Environment Specialist at the World Health Organisation (WHO), described the policy as both pro-health and pro-industry. He emphasised that the policy was not punitive but aimed at ensuring proper regulation of cosmetic chemical formulations through strong technical governance structures.