The Senate has begun a holistic probe into the widespread and scientifically verified lead-poisoning disaster ravaging Ogijo, a densely populated community straddling the Ikorodu area of Lagos and the Ogun East Senatorial District.
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Raising the alarm over the incident, the Senate summoned the Ministers of Environment, Health, Solid Minerals, Labour and Employment, and the Director General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to appear before the Senate Committee on Environment and Solid Minerals to provide updates on the crisis.
According to the Senate, the situation, linked to multiple used lead-acid battery recycling factories, has evolved into a full-blown public health emergency. Children, women and factory workers are said to be facing life-altering health consequences after years of exposure to toxic emissions.
The Senate ordered an emergency medical response and environmental remediation and approved sweeping measures to contain the crisis.
The Upper Chamber called for the deployment of emergency medical teams by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) to conduct free toxicology screening, blood-lead testing, chelation therapy and long-term treatment for victims.
It also directed a comprehensive environmental remediation by the Federal Ministry of Environment and NESREA to map soil, groundwater, air and household dust contamination.
The Senate further urged strict nationwide enforcement of battery-recycling and lead-processing standards by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, and emergency relief and temporary relocation for severely affected families through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Additionally, lawmakers called for the creation of a National Lead Poisoning Response and Remediation Office within NEMA to coordinate cleanup, medical treatment, monitoring and global traceability of exported lead.
The Senate Committee on Legislative Compliance was mandated to ensure the full implementation of all resolutions within six weeks.
The resolutions followed a motion sponsored by Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru, APC Lagos East, and Senator Gbenga Daniel, APC Ogun East. They warned that Ogijo is now facing an environmental catastrophe of global significance, with contamination levels reportedly reaching up to 186 times the internationally accepted safety limits.
In his presentation, Senator Abiru expressed shock over reports of persistent headaches, abdominal pain, seizures, memory loss and cognitive decline among residents, symptoms strongly associated with long-term lead exposure. He also cited independent investigations by The Examination and The New York Times, which confirmed severe poisoning through blood tests and toxic soil sampling.
Abiru said processed lead from Ogijo had entered global supply chains feeding major automobile manufacturers, illustrating how contaminated Nigerian lead was exported while local communities inhaled toxic fumes.
“Children are dying slowly. Families have lived for years under poisonous smoke and dust,” he said.
Calling for immediate federal intervention, he noted recent actions by the Federal Government through the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, who shut down seven recycling factories and temporarily suspended the export of lead ingots. He added, however, that the action, though commendable, was only the first step, as several operators deny wrongdoing, enforcement remains weak and exposure in the community continues to be extreme and unacceptable.
While acknowledging initial interventions by the Lagos and Ogun State Governments, Abiru stressed that the Constitution mandates the State to protect citizens’ health and ensure a safe environment.
“This is not just an environmental issue. It is a constitutional duty,” he said. “The lives and futures of children in Ogijo must not be traded for toxic profits.”
Abiru warned that rising global demand for recycled lead, combined with weak enforcement, has turned Nigerian communities into sacrifice zones where toxic industries operate with impunity, with Ogijo now under international scrutiny.
Senator Saliu Mustapha, APC Kwara Central, seconded the motion.
In his contribution, Senator Shuaib Salisu, APC Ogun Central, commended the Ogun State Government for testing residents and providing medical intervention, and urged greater attention to border communities facing similar risks.
Senator Babangida Hussaini, APC Jigawa North-West, called on the Federal Government to extend monitoring and intervention efforts to other parts of the country to protect citizens from industrial hazards.
President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, referenced a similar lead-poisoning episode in his community in Akwa Ibom, where many deaths were recorded. He praised the motion, noting its importance to public safety.
Following debate, Akpabio put the motion to a vote, and it was adopted by a majority voice vote.
He thereafter directed the Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor implementation and report back within two months.
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