Unsafe food claims 53,000 lives yearly in Nigeria, FG warns

The Federal Government has raised alarm over the severe impact of foodborne diseases in Nigeria, revealing that unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths and nearly 50 million illnesses annually across the country.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, disclosed this in Abuja during a ministerial briefing to mark the 2026 World Food Safety Day, themed “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.” He described food safety as a critical national development and health security issue, warning that the true cost extends beyond sickness and death to the loss of human capital, particularly among children.

According to the minister, Nigeria loses an estimated 4.26 million years of healthy life each year to foodborne diseases through illness, disability, and premature death. He noted that children under five bear more than 80 per cent of the country’s foodborne disease burden.

Salako cited newly released World Health Organisation estimates showing that unsafe food causes about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths globally annually, with Africa recording the highest per-capita burden. In Nigeria, diarrhoeal diseases remain the leading cause, with over 40 million cases linked to pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and rotavirus. He also warned of increasing exposure to chemical contaminants like lead in grains, spices, and water sources.

Despite the challenges, the minister said Nigeria has made progress in strengthening food safety systems, surpassing WHO targets for low- and middle-income countries in recent assessments. However, he stressed the need for intensified surveillance, better hygiene infrastructure, and stricter compliance with national standards.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to reducing foodborne diseases through science-based regulation and robust stakeholder engagement. She noted that safe food is essential for achieving nutrition and health goals.

Meanwhile, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) called for stronger regulatory measures to address diet-related non-communicable diseases.

CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, argued that food safety must also protect consumers from excessive sugar, salt, unhealthy fats, and ultra-processed foods, which contribute to hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cancers. CAPPA welcomed the Senate’s recent passage of a bill to strengthen Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax and urged the government to adopt sodium reduction targets and front-of-pack warning labels.

World Food Safety Day, observed annually, highlights the need for action to prevent, detect, and manage food-related risks. The 2026 edition marks the eighth global observance.