The Lagos State Government is taking steps to strengthen the regulation of cosmetic products and procedures with plans to domesticate the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health.
The initiative is aimed at improving patient safety, protecting consumers, and ensuring that cosmetic products and services in the state meet approved health and safety standards.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the policy and its implementation plan are formally presented to the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. Kemi Ogunyemi, during the Exit Meeting of the Lagos State Engagement on the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health.
The meeting is held at the Conference Room of the Lagos State Ministry of Health and marks the conclusion of a four-day stakeholder engagement programme.
The engagement begins on Tuesday, March 10, and continues through a series of discussions involving health regulators, industry stakeholders, and policy experts.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the sessions start at the Sojourner Hotel in GRA Ikeja before concluding at the Lagos State Ministry of Health headquarters.
Participants examine strategies to ensure the safe production, distribution, and use of cosmetic products across the state.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Ogunyemi says the engagement comes at a critical moment for Lagos, particularly in light of recent concerns about cosmetic procedures.
She refers to a recent cosmetic surgery-related death in the state, which is currently under investigation by the Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency, known as HEFAMAA.
The Special Adviser explains that authorities are reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Investigators are examining the procedures involved, the drugs used, and the sources of those substances to determine whether any regulatory breaches occurred.
According to Mediaplusng.com, Ogunyemi emphasizes that patient safety remains a major priority for the Lagos State Government.
She notes that the regulation of cosmetic products and procedures is essential to protecting the health and wellbeing of residents.
The Special Adviser states that even a single fatal incident highlights the need for stronger oversight within the cosmetics and aesthetic medicine industry.
She says the government is committed to preventing similar incidents in the future through stricter monitoring and improved regulatory frameworks.
Ogunyemi also assures stakeholders that the state government will implement the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health across the entire cosmetics value chain.
This includes manufacturers, distributors, suppliers, training institutions, healthcare providers, and cosmetic practitioners.
According to her, Lagos aims to set the pace for other states in Nigeria by ensuring that safety standards are fully integrated into the cosmetics industry.
Experts at the meeting highlight that the cosmetics sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years.
This growth is driven by increased consumer demand for beauty products, skincare treatments, and aesthetic procedures.
However, the expansion of the industry has also raised concerns about the circulation of substandard, counterfeit, or improperly formulated cosmetic products.
Director of Cosmetics Safety in the Food and Drug Services Department of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Paul Okhakhu, explains the rationale behind the national policy.
He says the Federal Government introduces the policy in response to increasing reports of health complications associated with unsafe cosmetic products.
According to Okhakhu, authorities have recorded cases of adverse reactions linked to adulterated, poorly formulated, or unregulated beauty products.
Such products may contain harmful substances that can cause skin damage, allergic reactions, or long-term health complications.
The policy therefore aims to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure that cosmetic products meet approved safety standards before reaching consumers.
Okhakhu explains that the policy is validated in Lagos before it is formally launched during the 66th National Council on Health meeting in Calabar.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the framework is designed to guide both federal and state regulatory authorities in developing action plans tailored to their specific environments.
He adds that the Federal Government is also working on a national digital dashboard to track the implementation of the cosmetics safety policy across different states.
The dashboard will allow regulators to monitor progress, identify compliance gaps, and share information among relevant agencies.
Okhakhu notes that Lagos is selected as one of the early states for policy engagement because of its strategic importance as Nigeria’s commercial and industrial hub.
He explains that Lagos hosts a significant proportion of the country’s cosmetics manufacturers, distributors, and beauty service providers.
As a result, strengthening regulation in the state could have a major impact on national consumer safety standards.
He expresses optimism that successful implementation in Lagos could serve as a model for other states.
The stakeholder engagement also provides an opportunity for regulators, academics, industry representatives, and civil society organizations to exchange ideas and share best practices.
Participants discuss strategies for improving product testing, strengthening licensing requirements, and enhancing consumer awareness.
They also explore ways to ensure that cosmetic practitioners receive proper training and certification.
In her closing remarks, the Director of Pharmaceutical Services at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Pharmacist Olawale Poluyi, describes the engagement as a significant milestone.
She says the discussions represent an important step toward implementing the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health in Lagos State.
Poluyi commends Dr. Ogunyemi for supporting the initiative and making time to engage with stakeholders despite her demanding schedule.
She assures participants that the Lagos State Ministry of Health will work to ensure that the resolutions reached during the engagement translate into practical actions.
According to Mediaplusng.com, the ministry plans to integrate the outcomes of the meeting into a State Cosmetics Safety Action Plan.
The action plan will outline specific steps for improving oversight of cosmetic products and services across Lagos.
Officials say the initiative will also strengthen consumer protection mechanisms and encourage industry compliance with health regulations.
The four-day engagement brings together 49 participants representing federal and state government agencies, regulatory bodies, academic institutions, industry associations, cosmetology practitioners, civil society groups, and members of the media.
Together, they review the current cosmetics safety landscape in Lagos and identify areas where regulatory systems can be strengthened.
Public health experts say improved regulation is essential as the global cosmetics market continues to expand.
They note that stronger policies help prevent the distribution of unsafe products and ensure that cosmetic procedures are carried out by qualified professionals.
For Lagos State, the domestication of the National Policy on Cosmetics Safety and Health represents an important step toward strengthening consumer protection and improving health outcomes.
Authorities say the ultimate goal is to ensure that residents can safely access cosmetic products and services without compromising their health.
As the implementation process begins, Lagos is positioning itself as a leader in promoting responsible cosmetic practices and protecting public health in Nigeria’s rapidly growing beauty industry.
