BY ONYEKA EZIKE
Following a recent report on foodborne illnesses by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, the founder of Voice of the Farmers, Afeez Olumide Garuba, has expressed deep concern over the root causes of food poisoning in Nigeria. Garuba attributed the rising menace to a critical lack of education and awareness among local farmers regarding safe agricultural practices.
According to the Minister, unsafe food accounts for more than 53,000 deaths annually, with an estimated 50 million people suffering from food-related diseases. These staggering figures have sparked critical concerns over current food storage practices, preservation methods, and regulatory oversight.
Speaking on Villa Square, a special segment of Cr8tive 9ja, the popular weekly tourism and cultural magazine program anchored by veteran tourism journalist Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, agricultural expert Afeez Olumide Garuba stated that these numbers reflect a harsh reality confronting Nigeria’s food market. Garuba highlighted several factors driving the high fatality rate, noting that public discourse heavily favors food security over food safety.
”Many people focus on food security rather than food safety,” Garuba observed.
“When food issues make the news, the conversation is almost always about failing to achieve food security, while food safety is ignored. True food safety spans from farm to table. To achieve it, farmers, logistics providers, processors, and the government must all play their respective roles across the supply chain.”
Garuba raised specific concerns regarding agricultural production, pointing to the improper application of fertilizers and chemical treatments by some farmers.
”There are established guidelines for applying fertilizer to ensure a healthy crop yield,” he explained.”
However, many farmers mishandle this process. We face significant issues with chemical residues in our food, particularly in vegetables. When fertilizers or pesticides are sprayed, there is a mandatory ‘withdrawal period’, a timeframe during which the chemicals must naturally break down before harvest.”
He added, “Unfortunately, due to greed and unprofessionalism, some farmers harvest their crops prematurely and rush them to the market. Unsuspecting consumers purchase these items, unknowingly ingesting dangerous chemicals that lead to severe illness.”
According to Garuba, this dangerous trend extends to livestock farming. He noted that many farmers inject livestock with medications or chemicals and fail to observe the required withdrawal periods before sale. He emphasized that farmers bear significant responsibility for these failures.
”Our goal is to create robust awareness around food safety in Nigeria, moving beyond just food security. We are actively sensitizing farmers on proper storage and handling,”
Garuba said. “A few years ago, the federal government introduced a fertilizer application guide utilizing the ‘Four Rs’: the Right source, the Right time, the Right place, and the Right rate. These principles empower farmers with essential knowledge.”
Garuba also noted that improper chemical use carries economic consequences for producers. “It is not just about food poisoning; it is also about cost. When a farmer applies excessive fertilizer hoping to force rapid growth, they are indirectly losing money. Many farmers simply lack the proper training, and ultimately, it is the consumers who pay the price with their health.”
He urged the government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other agricultural stakeholders to collaborate on widespread educational campaigns for farmers. He also called on regulatory bodies to strictly enforce food quality standards, stressing that “food safety is everybody’s business.”
Award-winning tourism journalist Frank Meke, emphasized the urgent need for structural policy adjustments and proactive government intervention.
Meke warned that the worsening food poisoning crisis poses a severe threat to the country’s younger generations.
In his final note, Garuba cautioned against an over-reliance on food imports. While recommending that the country look inward to achieve sustainability in food safety, he lamented that Nigerians often undervalue their local agricultural potential.
