The Senate has called for an urgent national response to the widespread and scientifically verified lead-poisoning disaster devastating Ogijo, a densely populated community between Ikorodu in Lagos East Senatorial District and the Ogun East Senatorial District.
Thie Senate also demanded the establishment of a National Lead Poisoning Response and Remediation Office within the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to coordinate clean-up, medical intervention, monitoring and global traceability of exported lead.
It also ordered an immediate national response, including deployment of emergency medical teams by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, NCDC for free toxicology screening, blood-lead testing, chelation therapy and long-term treatment of victims.
Moreover, the Senate mandated a comprehensive environmental remediation by the Federal Ministry of Environment and NESREA to assess soil, groundwater, air and household dust contamination, as well as strict nationwide enforcement of battery recycling and lead-processing standards by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
The Red Chamber passed these resolutions following the adoption of a motion on the disaster sponsored by Senator Adetokunbo Abiru (APC Lagos East) and Senator Gbenga Daniel (APC Ogun East), respectively during which lawmakers traced the situation to years of operations by multiple used lead-acid battery recycling factories, that escalated into a full-scale public health emergency, exposing children, women and factory workers to life-threatening contamination.
Leading the debate on the motion, Senator Abiru expressed deep concern over reports of persistent headaches, seizures, abdominal pain, memory loss and cognitive decline among residents, symptoms strongly linked to chronic lead exposure.
He cited verified investigations by The Examination and The New York Times, which confirmed severe lead poisoning through blood tests and toxic soil sampling.
Abiru disclosed that processed lead from Ogijo had been exported into global supply chains that serve major automobile manufacturers, meaning toxic Nigerian lead was entering international markets while local communities inhaled poisonous fumes.
He said, “Children are dying slowly. Families have lived for years under poisonous smoke and dust, calling for urgent federal intervention.
Abiru acknowledged the recent shutdown of seven factories and the temporary suspension of lead ingot exports by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.
While commending Lagos and Ogun State Governments for early efforts, he emphasised that the Constitution obligates the Nigerian State to protect citizens’ health and ensure a clean and safe environment.
Senators across party lines backed the motion, insisting that the Ogijo tragedy must become a defining moment in Nigeria’s environmental and public health governance.
They demanded stringent regulation, strict accountability, and a national commitment to ensuring no community suffers a similar fate.
The Senate, consequently directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure full implementation of all resolutions within six weeks.
