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By Rasheedat Oladotun-Iliyas
(Featured Image: AI Generated Cosmetic products)
The Kwara State Government has stepped up efforts to improve cosmetics safety and protect public health through the development of a comprehensive implementation plan.
This move follows a two-day stakeholders’ engagement in Ilorin, organised in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Resolve to Save Lives.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Ahmed El-Imam, stressed the need to safeguard residents from the dangers of unregulated cosmetic products. She warned that the widespread production and use of unregistered cosmetics, particularly within local communities, pose serious health risks.
Dr El-Imam noted that many of these products are produced without adherence to safety standards, exposing users to harmful substances capable of damaging the skin and internal organs.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to aligning with the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health, recently launched at the National Council on Health meeting, describing Kwara as a key player in the cosmetics value chain.
The commissioner called for stronger collaboration among regulatory bodies, increased public awareness, and improved access to testing facilities, noting that compliance with standards would protect consumers and promote responsible production.
Stakeholders at the meeting, including representatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Nigeria Customs Service, identified major challenges such as porous borders, high testing costs, and inadequate manpower.
They also raised concerns over the presence of harmful substances, including mercury and hydroquinone, in some locally produced cosmetics, urging stricter enforcement and the decentralisation of testing systems.
Participants recommended the provision of affordable testing kits, recruitment of additional regulatory personnel, and intensified public sensitisation campaigns on the dangers of substandard cosmetic products.
Also speaking, the Director of the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme at the Federal Ministry of Health, Mr Okhakhu Paul, described the rising cases of health complications linked to improperly formulated cosmetics as a growing public health concern.
He said such incidents, often referred to as adverse cosmetic events, have featured prominently in research findings and, in some cases, are approaching epidemic levels.
Mr Okhakhu explained that the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health was developed to address these challenges by providing a framework for safe formulation, production, and use of cosmetic products.
He emphasised that cosmetics are part of everyday life for most people, underscoring the need for effective regulation to minimise health risks.
Quoting the Coordinating Minister of Health, he reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling adverse cosmetic events, noting that the issue continues to receive national attention.
The engagement is expected to culminate in a state-specific action plan aimed at strengthening monitoring, enforcement, and compliance to ensure safer cosmetic practices across Kwara State.
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