The Kwara State House of Assembly has called for urgent measures to curb the growing menace of skin bleaching and the use of harmful whitening cosmetics in the state.
At the plenary on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, Hon. Maryam Yusuf Aladi (Ilorin South), who moved the motion, warned of the grave health hazards associated with bleaching creams and other unregulated cosmetic products.
She stressed the need for heightened sensitization to save unsuspecting users, especially women and young girls, from the dangers posed by such products.
The motion, co-sponsored by Ogbeni Seun Ogunniyi (Ojomu/Balogun Constituency) and Hon. Abdulraheem Medinat Motunrayo (Lanwa/Ejidongari), attracted wide support from members of the House.
In his contribution, Ogbeni Ogunniyi lamented that cosmetics, originally meant to enhance beauty and slow ageing, had become tools of abuse.
He noted that skin-whitening products, now topping the list of personal care purchases among Nigerian women, often contain harmful chemicals that cause severe health complications.
“Exposure to these toxic beauty products leads to cancer, dermatitis, organ toxicity, kidney and liver damage, among others. Their effects may not be immediate, but with time, the cumulative damage becomes irreversible,” Ogunniyi said.
He emphasized the need to strengthen the role of regulatory agencies such as NAFDAC and SON in clamping down on the production and sale of unregistered cosmetics while also intensifying public education campaigns.
Following extensive deliberations, the Assembly unanimously resolved to:
1. Urge Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct the Ministry of Health to collaborate with NAFDAC, SON, and other relevant agencies to regulate and monitor the sale of cosmetics and organic products across the state, and prosecute violators.
2. Mandate the Ministry of Communication and other media outlets in the state to partner with government agencies in raising awareness on the dangers of unregulated cosmetics and harmful body products.
The lawmakers noted that sustained sensitization would go a long way in discouraging the patronage of bleaching products and safeguarding public health.
