Expert Tasks FG to assent Food Safety Bill

The Head of EatSafe Country Programmes at the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, Dr. Augustine Okoruwa, has issued a stern warning that Nigeria might transform into a receptacle for unsafe food from neighboring African nations.

Speaking during a webinar in Lagos recently, Okoruwa emphasised the crucial role of a robust food safety policy, describing it as a vital initiative to fortify food control systems and create a platform for national discussions on safety issues.

He highlighted the opportunity for establishing priorities and mechanisms to enhance awareness and sectorial incentives for food safety management.

The webinar, which was titled: “Nigeria’s Food Safety Policy and Legislation,” delved into the current status of food safety in the country, addressing prevalent issues and proposing a way forward.

Okoruwa voiced concerns about the absence of a National Food Safety Authority (NFSA) that would act as a singular, comprehensive authority on food safety, and bemoaned the weak regulatory capacities and institutional structures aggravating food safety challenges in Nigeria.