The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has raised concerns over the level of food safety awareness among Nigerians, saying many people do not read or understand available safety guidelines.
Adeyeye made the remarks in an interview with BusinessDay while explaining the challenges involved in regulating food safety across Nigeria’s food supply chain.
According to her, several government agencies have responsibilities covering different stages of food production, from the farm to the consumer. She explained that NAFDAC’s mandate mainly covers processed and semi-processed foods, while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture has primary responsibility for fresh produce.
“We are ignorant in this country. We are very ignorant, we don’t read, we don’t understand,” Adeyeye said.
She also cited Nigeria’s high illiteracy level as one of the factors making it difficult for food safety information to reach and be understood by many citizens.
The NAFDAC boss explained that the agency also regulates pesticides and works with relevant authorities to educate farmers on their proper use, including when crops should be harvested after pesticide application.
However, she noted that NAFDAC cannot personally reach all farmers across the country and called for greater involvement from the Ministry of Agriculture in educating farmers and other stakeholders.
Adeyeye added that NAFDAC receives more than 200 complaints from Nigerians through its complaint channels every month. In August alone, the agency received 225 complaints involving suspected counterfeit products.
She stressed the importance of public awareness and compliance with food safety guidelines to protect consumers from potential health risks.
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