The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has inaugurated the National Cosmetics Safety Management Technical Working Group (NCSM-TWG) to strengthen the regulation and safety of cosmetic products in Nigeria.
The inauguration, which took place in Abuja, followed the adoption of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health at the 66th National Council on Health meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, in November 2025.Inaugurating the group on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, her Senior Technical Assistant, Dr Dogara Okara, described unsafe cosmetics as a major public health concern with far-reaching consequences.
He warned that the use of unsafe cosmetic products could lead to skin diseases, hormonal disorders, cancer, kidney failure and other long-term health conditions.
Dr Okara noted that some cosmetic products contain harmful substances, including formaldehyde and heavy metals, which can damage vital organs such as the kidneys, heart and eyes.
According to him, the establishment of the Technical Working Group is a deliberate effort by the Federal Government to ensure that cosmetic products used in Nigeria meet acceptable safety standards.
“It was in view of these serious health implications that the Federal Ministry of Health deemed it necessary to put a policy in place to safeguard Nigerians. The policy also establishes the National Cosmetics Safety Management framework, which brings us here today,” he said.
Dr Okara explained that members of the Technical Working Group were carefully selected from government agencies, academia, civil society organisations, development partners and international bodies to provide technical guidance for the effective implementation of the policy.
He outlined the group’s terms of reference to include providing strategic and technical guidance on cosmetic safety, coordinating national initiatives, supporting policy implementation, promoting multi-sectoral collaboration, and initiating measures to enhance cosmetic safety nationwide.
The Technical Working Group, he added, will serve a five-year term and is empowered to co-opt additional members where necessary.
transition from policy formulation to concrete action
Earlier, the Director and Head of the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme at the ministry, Mr Paul Okhakhu, said the inauguration marked a transition from policy formulation to concrete action aimed at protecting public health.
“Cosmetic safety is not just a regulatory or industry issue; it is a critical public health concern that requires coordinated, evidence-based and multi-sectoral action,” Okhakhu said.
Representing the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mr Prince Ikenna Nsofor commended the ministry for advancing the initiative beyond policy drafting, noting that NAFDAC had already begun enforcing stricter controls on imported and locally manufactured cosmetic products.
Also speaking, the World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Dr Edwin Isotu, described the policy as “pro-health, pro-industry and pro-Africa,” stressing that it was not intended to witch-hunt any institution.He warned that poor regulation of cosmetics could have inter-generational health implications, underscoring the need for effective oversight.
“This policy is not to punish anyone, but to ensure that systems where chemicals are combined for cosmetics are properly regulated,” Isotu said.Mrs Okeoma Obasi, representing Resolve to Save Lives, also praised the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health, expressing confidence that the new governance structure would strengthen Nigeria’s cosmetic safety ecosystem.
Members of the NCSM-TWG were drawn from relevant government ministries, regulatory agencies, academia, development partners, civil society organisations and industry stakeholders.
Reporting by Annabel Nwachukwu