The Federal Government has raised alarm over the rising impact of unsafe food in Nigeria, revealing that foodborne diseases are responsible for more than 53,000 deaths and nearly 50 million illnesses annually across the country.
The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during a press briefing marking the 2026 World Food Safety Day, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
According to him, food safety has become a major public health and national security concern, with the burden extending beyond illness and death to long-term losses in human productivity, especially among children.
He stated that Nigeria loses about 4.26 million years of healthy life each year due to foodborne diseases, with children under five accounting for more than 80 per cent of the burden.
Salako explained that millions of cases of diarrhoeal diseases are linked to contaminated food, water, and pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and others, making it a leading cause of hospitalisation and child mortality in the country.
He also warned of growing risks from chemical contamination, otning that exposure to heavy metals such as lead in food and water sources continues to contribute significantly to long-term health damage.
Despite these challenges, the minister said Nigeria has recorded progress in strengthening its food safety systems, including improved surveillance, reporting, and regulatory frameworks aligned with global standards.
He stressed, however, that the latest global and national figures should serve as a wake-up call for stronger action across the entire food value chain, including traditional markets, food processing, and distribution channels.
Salako further linked poor food safety practices to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular conditions, calling for stronger nutrition policies and healthier food regulations.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) also reaffirmed its commitment to improving food safety through stricter regulation, monitoring, and public awareness campaigns.
NAFDAC leadership noted that safe food is essential not only for preventing illness but also for improving immunity and supporting overall public health outcomes.
Meanwhile, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) urged the government to expand food safety policies beyond contamination issues to include regulation of unhealthy diets linked to rising chronic diseases.
The organisation called for stronger taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages, clearer food labelling, and tighter restrictions on the marketing of ultra-processed foods, especially to children.
Health experts continue to warn that unsafe diets, combined with weak enforcement of food standards, are contributing to a growing burden on Nigeria’s healthcare system and economy.
World Food Safety Day is observed globally to promote awareness and action on food safety risks, with increasing attention now shifting toward both contamination and diet-related health challenges.
In Nigeria, authorities say ongoing reforms in food regulation, surveillance, and nutrition policies are aimed at reducing both foodborne diseases and long-term diet-related illnesses.
