Khadijat Yusuf
Abuja
The Federal government has express displeasure over the alarming rate of deaths in Nigeria linked to food borne illnesses, revealing that approximately 200,000 Nigerians die each year from contaminated or adulterated food.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji made this known in a statement released by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST), Mrs. Veronica Ezeh.
The Minister cited data from the World Health Organization (WHO) indicating that over 600 million people globally fall ill annually due to unsafe food, with 420,000 deaths recorded in Sub-Saharan Africa Nigeria alone accounting for nearly half of those fatalities.
He emphasized that the Federal Government will no longer tolerate food adulteration and contamination, warning that perpetrators will face the full force of the law.
Speaking through a representative, Prof. Samson Duna, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, during the official launch of Nigeria’s first-ever Food Safety Operational Manual and the training of food safety officers, held in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister emphasized that food safety is not just a health concern, but a matter of national interest. “Food safety is a national security issue, a development imperative, and a catalyst for inclusive growth aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.
He added that the Ministry regards food safety as a science-driven initiative and has therefore instructed its agencies and research institutions to focus on Developing affordable food preservation and quality assurance technologies, promoting indigenous innovations that respect Nigeria’s culinary diversity and deploying mobile and digital tools to train informal food vendors in both urban and rural areas.
Chief Nnaji applauded Mrs. Ezeh and her team at NiCFoST for their efforts in developing the manual, describing it as “the first of its kind in Nigeria.”
In a related statement, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, echoed the urgency of tackling foodborne illnesses. Represented by Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, he re-echoed findings from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), noting that 20% of hospital admissions in urban areas stem from foodborne diseases.
He emphasized the critical role of food scientists and innovators: “This figure exemplifies the country’s fight against food borne illnesses and the importance of food scientists, innovators, and researchers to support this public health priority.”
Prof. Pate also highlighted that the Ministry of Health has, over recent years, been working on detailed national guidelines to improve food safety practices at sub-national levels. “Working in close collaboration with state governments, these guidelines will be tailored to address local challenges, ensuring that every community benefits from robust and effective food safety measures,” he said.
In her address, Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, Chief executive officer of the Nigerian Council for Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST), issued a stern warning to food vendors, restaurants, and businesses involved in unethical practices. “Desist from criminal acts of food adulteration and unethical practices that endanger public health and violate the Nigerian Constitution,” she said.
Further more, she identified several dangerous practices currently in use to include washing produce with detergents, burning tyres to remove animal skin, ripening fruits with calcium carbide, using paracetamol tablets to tenderize meat, and adding toxic dyes like Sudan IV to red oil and pepper.
Mrs. Ezeh expressed deep concern over the failure of local governments to employ certified food safety professionals, despite constitutional backing. She urged all 774 local government chairmen to prioritize the recruitment of licensed food safety experts.
“With the new development, the days of laxity in food safety enforcement is over, bringing hope for a healthier, safer Nigeria,” she asserted.
Also speaking at the event, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), underscored the central role of food safety in everyday life. “Whatever can be done to ensure that food handlers are trained and continually made aware of the consequences of preparing unsafe and unhealthy food is a welcome development,” he said.
Echoing this sentiment, the Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, in his goodwill message, congratulated the NiCFoST Registrar and emphasized the importance of simplifying the manual’s contents to ensure they are easily understood across all literacy levels.
Similarly, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented by Kene Azikiwe, described the manual as a major milestone in promoting safe food practices, especially within Nigeria’s vast informal food sector.
“Millions of Nigerians depend daily on food vending across markets and streets, for both sustenance and livelihood,” she said. “This manual comes at a critical time, providing clear guidelines for food operators to align their operations with global best practices in food safety and hygiene.” He said.
The event was attended by over 150 food safety desk officers, regulatory agency staff, representatives from Abuja’s Area Councils, and food business operators who underwent training on using the operational manual.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of the Food Safety Operational Manual, a demonstration on detecting adulterated products like fake red oil and pepper and group photos.
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