By Clara DABO
The Federal Government has raised a significant alarm over the alarming rate of deaths linked to foodborne illnesses in Nigeria, with the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Geoffrey Nnaji, revealing that an estimated 200,000 Nigerians die annually from consuming contaminated or adulterated food.
Chief Nnaji’s concerns were communicated through a statement by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Council of Food Science and Technology (NiCFoST), Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, during the official launch of Nigeria’s first Food Safety Operational Manual in Abuja on Thursday. Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Nnaji highlighted that over 600 million people worldwide fall ill from unsafe food every year, with Sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 420,000 deaths—nearly half of which are in Nigeria.
Represented by Professor Samson Duna, Director General of the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute, the Minister declared the government’s zero tolerance for food adulteration and unsafe practices, emphasizing that offenders would face prosecution.
“Food safety is not just a public health concern; it is a matter of national security, economic development, and a key pillar of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Chief Nnaji stated. He underscored the Ministry’s commitment to science-driven food safety initiatives, including the development of affordable preservation technologies and the training of informal food vendors using mobile and digital tools.
The Minister commended NiCFoST and its CEO, Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, for leading the development of the manual, describing it as a historic milestone for Nigeria’s food safety framework.
In a related address, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, reiterated the urgency of tackling foodborne diseases. Represented by Mrs. Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, Pate cited a report from the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), which found that 20% of hospital admissions in urban Nigeria are linked to foodborne illnesses. He called for stronger collaboration among food scientists and innovators to address the escalating public health threat.
Pate also announced ongoing efforts to implement national food safety guidelines at sub-national levels, collaborating with state governments to ensure these standards reflect local realities for effective citizen protection.
Meanwhile, NiCFoST CEO, Mrs. Veronica Ezeh, delivered a stern warning to food vendors and businesses engaged in unethical food practices. She urged them to “desist from criminal acts of food adulteration that endanger public health and contravene the Nigerian Constitution.” Ezeh pointed out dangerous practices such as using paracetamol to tenderize meat, ripening fruits with calcium carbide, and adding toxic dyes like Sudan IV to red oil and pepper.
Ezeh also criticized local governments for not employing certified food safety professionals and urged all 774 local government chairmen to prioritize recruitment in this critical area. “The era of lax enforcement is over,” she declared.
Addressing the participants, Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, Director General of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), emphasized the need for continuous training of food handlers. Similarly, the Director General of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council called for the simplification of the manual to make it accessible to all literacy levels.
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented by Kene Azikiwe, praised the manual as a vital tool for safer food handling, particularly in Nigeria’s vast informal food sector. “Millions depend on street food daily—this manual sets the benchmark for global best practices,” she said.
The event attracted over 150 participants, including food safety officers, regulatory agency representatives, and food business operators, who received hands-on training on the manual’s application. Highlights of the event included a demonstration on how to identify adulterated food products and the formal unveiling of the manual.
Dignitaries present included members of the National Assembly, various agency Director Generals, and representatives of Abuja’s Area Councils.
