Elegbede Abiodun
NAFDAC is working with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and other partners to boost Nigeria’s food safety systems.
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a nation where everyone has access to safe, wholesome and nutritious food.
Prof. Adeyeye made the call on Monday in Lagos during the 2026 World Food Safety Day celebration organised by NAFDAC. The event, themed “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere,” brought together stakeholders to promote food safety and strengthen public awareness.
Represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (FSAN), Mrs. Eva Edwards, the NAFDAC boss said the agency remains fully committed to the global campaign for safe food and is working alongside the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Food Safety Management Committee, and other partners to strengthen Nigeria’s food safety systems.
She described safe food as a fundamental human right and stressed that protecting public health requires stronger and more resilient food safety systems capable of delivering safe and nutritious food to all.
Prof. Adeyeye noted that World Food Safety Day, first observed in June 2019 after its establishment by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2018 following a joint proposal by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), serves to raise awareness about food safety and encourage efforts to prevent, detect and manage foodborne risks.
According to her, foodborne illnesses are responsible for more than 200 diseases worldwide, affecting public health, livelihoods, education and national economies, despite the fact that most cases can be prevented through proper food handling, effective monitoring and coordinated action.
She explained that food safety is a shared responsibility involving every stage of the food supply chain from agricultural production, harvesting and storage to transportation, processing, distribution, retail and consumption.
“The theme of this year’s celebration reminds us that unsafe food remains a major public health burden, contributing to foodborne illnesses, food insecurity, economic losses, food waste, export rejections and, in many cases, loss of lives,” she said.
She added that the theme challenges governments, industries and consumers to focus on practical and sustainable solutions through science-based regulation, education, innovation, responsible practices and stronger collaboration.
For Nigeria, Prof. Adeyeye said strengthening food safety remains critical to protecting public health, improving nutrition, facilitating trade and building confidence in the country’s food system. She emphasized the need to enhance regulatory systems, surveillance, laboratory capacity, industry compliance and public awareness as food supply chains become increasingly complex.
She identified key measures required to achieve safe food everywhere, including adherence to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), proper storage and distribution practices, implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and public education based on the WHO’s Five Keys to Safer Food.
The NAFDAC DG said the agency’s mandate is to ensure that food products available to Nigerians comply with national and international safety and quality standards, while noting that regulation alone cannot guarantee food safety.
“Achieving safe food everywhere requires strong partnerships because food safety is a shared responsibility,” she stated.
She also highlighted progress made in shifting from reactive to preventive food safety systems through strengthened regulatory oversight, risk-based approaches, increased public awareness and enhanced collaboration among stakeholders.
Prof. Adeyeye urged Nigerians to remain vigilant by purchasing only properly labelled food products with valid NAFDAC registration numbers and traceable sources, stressing that informed consumers play a vital role in ensuring food safety.
“The message of this year’s theme is clear: we must move beyond recognising the burden of foodborne diseases to implementing practical solutions that protect our communities and strengthen our food systems,” she said.
