The Senator representing the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Ireti Kingibe, has issued an urgent call to regulatory authorities to investigate the safety of disposable sanitary pads sold across Nigeria.

 

Her statement follows alarming scientific reports detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals in various sanitary pad brands on the Nigerian market.

 

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### Regulatory Action Demanded

 

Highlighting the potential public health risks to millions of women and young girls who rely on menstrual hygiene products every month, Senator Kingibe pressed regulatory bodies to act swiftly.

 

She urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other oversight agencies to immediately carry out comprehensive safety assessments, tighten quality control measures, and publish their findings transparently.

 

> *"I urge NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other relevant regulatory authorities to immediately investigate these findings, conduct comprehensive safety assessments, strengthen quality control measures, and provide clear and transparent information to the public,"* Kingibe stated.

 

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### Protecting Women’s Health and Rights

 

Emphasizing that access to safe hygiene products is a fundamental necessity rather than a luxury, the lawmaker insisted that Nigerian women must be protected from toxic chemicals and health hazards associated with everyday consumer goods.

 

> *"Women deserve access to safe menstrual hygiene products and the assurance that the products they use every month will not put their health at risk. We must prioritise women’s safety in Nigeria by ensuring that public health concerns are investigated promptly, regulatory standards are enforced, and those who raise legitimate concerns are heard and protected,"* she added.

 

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### Key Demands for Regulatory Oversight

 

* **Immediate Testing:** Comprehensive laboratory testing of all disposable sanitary pad brands sold nationwide to detect harmful substances like VOCs and phthalates.

* **Transparent Public Disclosure:** Prompt, clear communication of safety audit results to reassure consumers and eliminate unsafe products.

* **Strict Quality Enforcement:** Enforcing rigid safety standards for domestic manufacturers and importers of menstrual hygiene products.

 

Concluding her call to action, Senator Kingibe reaffirmed that public health oversight must remain uncompromised:

 

> *"The safety of our women is not negotiable. It demands urgent action, transparency and accountability."*