Charles Esther
Federal Government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Nigerian Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), and food safety experts, have sounded the alarm over the poor quality of food consumed in Nigeria.
Stakeholders Call for Urgent Action
Speaking at a National Awareness Campaign on Food Safety in Abuja on Thursday, stakeholders urged both the government and citizens to take immediate steps to tackle unsafe food practices, describing the crisis as a national security concern.
Ministry of Health Flags Public Health Risks
Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health, Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, in a speech delivered by nutrition officer Husana Aminu, said unsafe food has contributed to rising deaths from foodborne illnesses in Nigeria.
“Food safety is not just a health issue; it is a national security issue,” she stressed. “Every naira spent on prevention saves far more in treatment, lost productivity, and long-term health costs.”
Event Organiser Advocates Natural Foods
The campaign organiser, Ekemini Francis, CEO of MyGrandMa Kitchen, urged Nigerians to consume natural foods free from harmful chemicals.
NiCFoST Warns Against Hazardous Practices
Registrar of NiCFoST, Veronica Ezeh, represented by Bello Kabiru, Head of Inspection and Monitoring, warned against dangerous food handling methods, including:
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Soaking cassava in detergent solution to soften it
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Washing fruits and vegetables with detergents to improve appearance
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Burning tyres to remove animal skin
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Forced ripening of fruits with calcium carbide
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Using sniper (dichlorvos) to preserve beans and cereals
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Cooking meat with paracetamol as a tenderiser
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Mixing honey with syrups
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Preserving cow skin (kpomo) and fish with formalin
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Adding harmful dyes like Sudan IV to palm oil and pepper
She noted that offenders could face one to two years’ imprisonment under the Criminal Code Act.
Agriculture Ministry Pushes Organic Farming
Dr. Aisha Isa, Deputy Director at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Safety, said the government has begun campaigns promoting organic farming and farm-to-table food supply.
FCCPC Highlights Links to Chronic Illnesses
Victoria Oye, Assistant Chief Scientific Officer at the FCCPC’s Quality Assurance Department, warned that mineral deficiencies from unsafe food practices are linked to cancers and other terminal diseases.
Foodborne Illnesses Claim 200,000 Lives Annually
In May 2025, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, revealed that 200,000 Nigerians die each year from food-related illnesses, underscoring the urgency of the crisis
David Awoyode