Bleaching skin to face this in the future – Minister Salako

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In order to celebrate Afrocentric beauty and dismantle damaging beauty standards, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has called for the revival of the “Black is Beautiful” movement.

Salako gave a speech at the Gabon-hosted regional awareness-raising workshop on banning lightening cosmetics.

The minister challenged the misconceptions about lighter skin in a speech on Thursday, urging influencers, celebrities, and local leaders to support self-acceptance and natural beauty.

“Through collaborative efforts, we can address the root causes of skin-bleaching practices and promote healthier and more inclusive attitudes toward beauty,” he said.

According to a global Health Organization (WHO) research, 77% of Nigerian women use skin-lightening cosmetics, making Nigeria the “world capital” of skin bleaching.

According to him, additional research and surveys supported the high incidence of skin bleaching in Nigeria.

He presented data from the Cosmetics Safety Management Programme (CSMP) of the ministry, which showed that 52% of producers use skin-lightening ingredients.

Salako noted that many people use the word “toning” instead of bleaching because they believe it to be completely safe or less dangerous.

He emphasized the serious health hazards associated with Skin-Lightening Products (SLPs), which frequently contain heavy metals like arsenic, lead, and cadmium as well as dangerous chemicals like mercury, hydroquinone, and steroids.

“These substances can cause skin damage, organ toxicity, neurological complications, and cancer.

“The widespread use of SLPs in Africa, particularly in Nigeria, highlights the urgent need for targeted public health campaigns, stricter regulatory enforcement, and community-driven advocacy to combat the practice,” he said.

Salako praised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, or NAFDAC, and the Health Ministry for their prompt actions.

He mentioned the 2019 Cosmetic Products, Prohibition of Bleaching Agents Regulations, which forbid dangerous skin-bleaching substances like mercury and set a two percent limit on the content of hydroquinone.

“The CSMP has carried out sensitisation campaigns, grassroots advocacy, and training programmes to raise awareness about the dangers of skin bleaching.

“The government is also developing a guideline on the safety assessment of cosmetic products to strengthen regulatory oversight and ensure that all products meet international safety standards, ” he said.

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