The Ogun State Government has launched and disseminated its Lead Poisoning Assessment Report to relevant stakeholders as part of efforts to strengthen public health protection, improve environmental surveillance and prevent further exposure to lead across the state.

Speaking at a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week in Abeokuta, the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the report would provide an evidence base for coordinated interventions, improved risk communication and informed decision-making on lead poisoning prevention and control.

Coker explained that lead exposure posed serious health risks, particularly to children, pregnant women and workers, noting that its effects could include impaired brain development, learning difficulties and damage to vital body systems.

She said the assessment report was developed through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Health, other relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and implementing partners to establish a clearer understanding of lead exposure risks and guide appropriate interventions.

The Commissioner stressed that the report's value would depend on the extent to which its findings and recommendations translated into practical measures, urging relevant institutions to strengthen collaboration, clarify responsibilities and prioritise actions that would protect exposed communities.

She added that the Ministry had also planned community engagement with traditional rulers, community leaders and residents of Ogijo to disseminate the assessment findings, address concerns and promote public understanding of lead exposure, its potential sources and preventive measures.

The Commissioner, who described the theme of this year's commemoration, “From Detection to Prevention,” as a reminder that identifying exposure was only the first step, called on industry operators, development partners, community leaders and relevant government agencies to support sustained efforts to reduce environmental and occupational risks.

The launch and dissemination of the assessment report follow concerns raised last year over lead poisoning in Ogijo and its environs, which brought renewed attention to the potential health implications of industrial activities and the need for a coordinated response. The state government's assessment initiative represents an effort to examine the situation systematically and provide evidence to guide public health planning, stakeholder engagement and appropriate preventive action. 

In his response to questions from journalists, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, said the state government, through the Ministry of Environment, had embarked on its Clear Air Agenda programme to mitigate pollution in industrial areas across the state, adding that local responders had been activated in communities around industrial facilities to alert regulatory agencies to observed infractions and irregularities.

Oresanya added that the government had adopted other measures to strengthen environmental monitoring and regulatory compliance, emphasising the need for industries to adhere to environmental standards and for residents to report activities that could pose risks to public health and the environment.

Meanwhile, during the official presentation of the report to community leaders in Ogijo, Sagamu Local Government Area, the Ologijo of Ogijo, Oba Kazeem Gbadamosi, commended the state government for fulfilling its promise to investigate the lead poisoning incident reported last year and produce a comprehensive assessment report, noting that the Ministries of Health and Environment had pledged to look into the matter.

The traditional ruler expressed optimism that the report's findings would help allay concerns and promote calm among residents of Ogijo and its neighbouring communities, urging residents to promptly report any industrial activities or substances they considered potentially harmful to the environment and public health.