When most people decide to paint a home, school, office or other space, the decision usually starts with colour. We think about the shade that will work with the furniture, the finish that will suit the space, whether matt or glossy, and, understandably, the cost.

These are all valid considerations because paint is one of the most visible elements of any space, and its ability to transform an environment is part of what makes it important. But some of the most important questions about paint cannot be answered simply by looking at the colour on the wall.

What is actually inside the product? Has it been manufactured to recognised standards and appropriately tested? Is it suitable for its intended use, and is there evidence to support the quality claimed on the label? These questions may not arise when someone is choosing between two shades of cream or grey, but they are important because paint is a manufactured product that becomes part of the environments in which we live, work, learn and raise our families, making its composition and quality as important as its appearance.

This takes on particular significance as we mark the 2026 International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, from October 18 to 24. This year’s theme, “From Detection to Prevention”, highlights the need to identify potential sources of lead exposure as an important step towards preventing harm.

The World Health Organization notes that lead can affect multiple body systems, with young children particularly vulnerable to its effects, including impacts on the developing brain and nervous system, and that there is no level of lead exposure known to be without harmful effects.

Paint is not the only possible source of lead exposure, but it is an area where manufacturers, regulators, professionals and consumers can make informed decisions that reduce risk. Paint safety should therefore not be treated as a subject that receives attention only during one awareness week. It should form part of how we think about the products used in the homes, schools, workplaces and other environments where people spend their everyday lives.

What sits behind the colour

In Nigeria, colour, finish and price are three very visible factors that understandably influence paint-buying decisions, but they should not be the only measures of value. A lower-priced product may not necessarily offer better value if it performs poorly, requires more frequent repainting or is unsuitable for its intended application. In the same way, an attractive finish tells very little about the manufacturing controls, testing or standards behind the product.

Consumers should be able to ask straightforward questions: What standards does this product meet? What assurance does the manufacturer provide about its composition and quality, and can its claims be supported by evidence or testing? Th is should not mean expecting consumers to become experts in paint chemistry to make responsible choices.

The responsibility for building quality and safety into a product begins with the manufacturer, while regulators, industry professionals and other stakeholders all have roles in ensuring that standards are understood and upheld.

Building trust through evidence

Responsible manufacturing requires discipline in formulation, sourcing, production, testing and quality assurance, alongside evidence to support product claims.

This principle is reflected in the standards we apply to our products and the processes used to verify them. Independent testing across 25 products in the portfolio has confirmed no added lead, with recorded results as low as 0.0001 parts per million, well within Nigeria’s 90 parts per million regulatory limit for lead in paint. For everyone, these results are important because they provide evidence of the standards expected from every product and the responsibility that comes with manufacturing materials used in everyday environments.

However, compliance should be viewed as a foundation and not the limit of the industry’s ambition. Manufacturers must continue to maintain rigorous quality controls and testing, regulators must provide effective oversight, and professionals such as architects, builders, painters and developers must consider product standards when specifying or recommending materials. Consumers, in turn, should have access to clear information that helps them make informed choices without carrying the burden of verifying product safety themselves.

Looking beyond the awareness week

The Nigerian paints and coatings industry has an opportunity to strengthen consumer confidence by making product standards, testing and quality easier to understand. For manufacturers, this means being transparent about their processes and consistent in demonstrating the quality behind their claims, recognising that their products become part of the homes where children sleep, the classrooms where they learn and the workplaces where people spend much of their lives.

Colour will always be an important part of the appeal of paint. However, when we choose paint, we should look beyond the colour and consider the quality, standards and assurance behind it. That shift may seem small, but it can help build a market in which safety and quality are prioritised, manufacturers are held to a higher standard of accountability and consumers are better equipped to ask the right questions.

Olalekan Aluko is the managing director of CAP PLC