NAFDAC Warns Nigerians Against Unsafe Food, Calls for Collective Action

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians against consuming unsafe food and urged all stakeholders across the food value chain to work together to strengthen food safety systems in order to protect public health and reduce the burden of foodborne diseases.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the call on Monday at the agency’s 2026 World Food Safety Day celebration in Lagos, saying access to safe and wholesome food is a fundamental human right that must be guaranteed for every Nigerian.

The event, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere,” highlighted the need for practical and sustainable measures to improve food safety from production to consumption.

Represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, Adeyeye said NAFDAC remained committed to the global campaign to strengthen food safety systems and protect consumers.

She said the agency joined the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Food Safety Management Committee and the international community to mark the day and reaffirm a shared commitment to safeguarding public health.

According to her, “Safe food is an imperative and indeed a fundamental human right,” stressing that stronger and more resilient food safety systems are essential to ensuring the availability of safe and nutritious food.

The NAFDAC boss noted that food safety concerns extend throughout the entire food supply chain, from farming and harvesting to storage, transportation, processing, distribution, retailing and final consumption.

She explained that every stage presents unique food safety risks, making it imperative for all participants in the chain to play their part in ensuring food remains safe from farm to fork.

Adeyeye observed that unsafe food continues to pose a major public health challenge globally, contributing to preventable foodborne illnesses, food insecurity, economic losses, reduced productivity, export rejections, food waste and avoidable deaths.

“The theme challenges us to focus on practical and sustainable solutions that will ensure safe food for everyone, everywhere,” she said.

She identified science-based regulation, public education, responsible industry practices, innovation, collaboration and the promotion of a strong food safety culture as critical measures for tackling the problem.

The Director-General said strengthening food safety is central to protecting Nigerians, improving nutrition, supporting trade and enhancing confidence in the country’s food system.

She added that as Nigeria’s food supply chains become increasingly complex, there is a need to further strengthen regulatory systems, surveillance, laboratory capacity, industry compliance and public awareness.

To achieve safe food nationwide, Adeyeye called for sustained implementation of internationally recognised best practices, including Good Agricultural Practices, Good Hygiene Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, Good Storage and Distribution Practices, as well as the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points system.

She also underscored the importance of food safety education and promoting the World Health Organisation’s five keys to safer food among consumers and food handlers.

Adeyeye said NAFDAC’s role as Nigeria’s competent authority for food safety is to ensure that food products available to consumers comply with national and international safety standards and are produced in accordance with regulatory requirements.

She, however, stressed that regulation alone would not deliver safe food for all.

“Achieving safe food everywhere requires more than regulation alone; it requires partnerships,” she said, noting that food safety remains a shared responsibility among government, industry operators, farmers, food vendors and consumers.

The NAFDAC chief said Nigeria had made progress in shifting from reactive responses to preventive food safety systems through stronger regulatory oversight, risk-based approaches, increased public awareness and improved collaboration across sectors.

She urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by avoiding food products without proper labelling, valid NAFDAC registration numbers or traceable sources.

According to her, informed consumers are an essential part of the country’s food safety system, adding that only sustained collective action can guarantee safe and wholesome food for everyone.