Chemical and Allied Products (CAP) PLC, Nigeria’s leading paint manufacturer, has called for safer and sustainable paint manufacturing practices, warning that lead exposure poses significant health and environmental risks.
CAP made this call as it joined the world to observe the International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week (ILPPW) 2025, themed ‘No Safe Level: Act Now to End Lead Exposure,’ reaffirming its dedication to producing lead-free paints and promoting sustainable industry standards.
The week-long campaign, running from October 19 to 25, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of lead exposure and accelerate collective action toward its complete elimination.
The paint manufacturing company stated that all brands under CAP, including Dulux, Sandtex, Caplux, and Hempel, have no added lead.
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The company also reaffirmed its commitment to creating safer living and working environments for Nigerian households, industries, and communities through continuous innovation and adherence to international best practices in paint production.
“At CAP PLC, we believe safety should be a standard, not a choice. Our commitment to creating safe and sustainable products goes beyond business; it is about people.
“By supporting International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week 2025, we are renewing our responsibility to ensure that every Nigerian, especially our children, can live, learn, and grow in healthier spaces,” Bolarin Okunowo, managing director of CAP PLC, stated.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no safe level of lead exposure. Even minimal contact can cause irreversible neurological and physiological harm, particularly in children, whose developing brains and bodies are most vulnerable.
The WHO estimates that lead exposure accounts for nearly one million deaths each year, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.
CAP PLC stated that in Nigeria, recurring incidents such as the Zamfara lead contamination crisis have underscored the profound social and economic costs of unchecked lead exposure.
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“Complementing these global findings, research from both the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, revealed that 78 percent of Nigerian painters report chronic symptoms such as cough and skin irritation, yet only 7.5 percent consistently use personal protective equipment (PPE).
“These realities highlight the urgent need for sustained industry-wide advocacy and professional training,” the company noted.
Lead poisoning has been linked to cognitive impairment, reduced IQ, behavioural challenges, hypertension, kidney dysfunction, and other chronic health conditions, issues that impact both individual well-being and national productivity.
“Ending lead exposure is a shared responsibility. It requires action from policymakers, manufacturers, artisans, and families alike.
‘For us at CAP PLC, we are a part of this greater movement, one that is painting a brighter, safer, and more sustainable future for generations to come,” Okunowo added.
CAP PLC’s environmental strategy aligns with Nigeria’s sustainability vision and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3, 11, 12, and 13).
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THE 17 GOALS | Sustainable Development
The company has adopted low-VOC and eco-friendly paint technologies that reduce emissions and improve indoor air quality, implemented responsible waste management and recycling systems, and invested in environmentally conscious finishing methods that protect both applicators and end-users.
Beyond compliance, CAP PLC integrates education and empowerment into its operations. Through the CAP Painter’s Academy, they equip artisans with modern skills to deliver superior finishes that extend building longevity while reducing environmental and health risks.
As part of its ongoing safety and awareness efforts, CAP PLC plans to include a sensitisation session on the hazards of lead exposure and practical measures to prevent its use during its Painters Training Academy programme in Ibadan this week.
Through continuous innovation, education, and collaboration, CAP PLC stands at the forefront of efforts to eliminate lead exposure and ensure that the paints that color our nation also protect it.
