Paint for strips that cover ceiling joints

On the small strips that cover the inside ceiling joints, I had a few brad nails pop loose. They are made to flex and they get their workout on our roads! I have re-nailed them and put putty over the nail heads. They are covered with the same wallpaper like white material that the roof panels are covered with. Does anyone have any ideas on what to paint these with? Do they need to be primed first?
Any ideas or suggestions will be appreciated!