The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over rising use of skin whitening products in Nigeria, describing it as a growing public health threat requiring urgent attention.

The Director-General of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency, NESREA, Innocent Barikor, said the newly unveiled documentary brings to the fore years of advocacy on chemical safety and the dangers associated with toxic cosmetic products widely used across the country.

Barikor, represented by the Director of Partnerships, Bintu Mohammed Nkolo, warned that continuous use of such substances could result in severe skin complications, hormonal imbalance, infertility, and in some cases, cancer, stressing the need for stronger regulation and public awareness.

Also, the Federal Ministry of Environment cautioned Nigerians against the indiscriminate use of harmful bleaching agents.

Director of Pollution Control, Bahijjatu Abubakar, noted that the documentary highlights the increasing exposure of citizens to dangerous chemicals in cosmetic products, despite sustained sensitization campaigns over the years.

Founder of the Women Environmental Programme, Priscilla Achakpa, described the initiative as part of a wider national awareness drive aimed at promoting safer beauty choices and challenging harmful societal standards.

Stakeholders at the event called for intensified sensitization campaigns, stricter enforcement of regulations, and greater personal responsibility to curb the use of dangerous skin whitening products across the country.