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ToxinFree
SENTINEL ARCHIVE / CASE #130

Nigeria

No comprehensive national ban. Asbestos-cement roofing sheets widely used across residential and commercial construction, particularly in rural areas.

—No Ban
—
No ban in place
—
Mesothelioma Rate
—
Data not available
1970s-present
Peak Usage Era

Regulatory Timeline

  1. 1970s

    1. 1970Event

      Post-civil war reconstruction drives large-scale asbestos-cement roofing deployment nationwide

      ↗ Source

  2. 1990s

    1. 1990Event

      Health concerns begin appearing in medical literature; no government regulatory response initiated

      ↗ Source

  3. 2000s

    1. 2006Regulation

      Isolated state-level advisories issued; no enforcement mechanism or national framework created

      ↗ Source

  4. 2010s

    1. 2015Event

      ILO and WHO jointly call on Nigeria to ratify asbestos conventions and enact a national ban

      ↗ Source

  5. 2020s

    1. 2024Event

      No comprehensive ban; millions of aging asbestos-cement roofs still in active residential use

      ↗ Source

Material Identification Guide

Common materials still present in buildings

asbestos-cement roofing sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement flat sheets

HIGH RISKNon-friable

1930–2000

asbestos-cement water pipes

MODERATENon-friable

1930–1990

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What To Do If You Live Here

  • Asbestos is still legally used in your country.
  • New and older construction alike may contain asbestos-containing materials.
  • Consult a certified professional before any renovation work.
  • Advocate for stronger asbestos regulations in your region.

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Sources

Last updated: 2026-03-13

Information aggregated from public sources including IBAS, EPA, and WHO. Not legal or medical advice.

How we source our data →