The Nigerian Federal Government has officially launched the Food Safety Operational Manual for Business Operators, alongside the training of Food Safety Desk Officers across the country.
The Manual provides clear guidelines for food business operators on proper food handling, hygiene practices, and safety protocols across the Value Chain.
Over the years, Nigeria’s food safety enforcement lhas been fragmented, with many operators unaware of basic hygiene protocols, and enforcement officers lacking a unified framework.
The Food Safety Operational Manual for Business Operators, alongside the training of Food Safety Desk Officers across the country is designed to change the narrative.
The Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Geoffrey Nnaji, cited statistics from the World Health Organisation revealing that over 600 million people fall ill globally each year from contaminated food, with Nigeria accounting for 200,000 of the 420,000 deaths reported in Sub-Saharan Africa.
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Nnaji added that the Ministry is intensifying oversight through its Agencies, particularly the Nigeria Council of Food Science and Technology, with a renewed focus on Local Government Areas where supervision remains weak.
Other Speakers noted that the new framework will boost trade by improving the safety of exported food products and restoring consumer confidence in locally produced food.
The government has however said it will henceforth apply the full weight of the law against food adulterators, stressing that food safety is a collective responsibility that starts from the farm and ends at the table.
(Editor: Ken Eseni)
