Stories by Blessing Otobong-gabriel
Federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, has reaffirmed its commitment to transform the food safety system through a robust and science-driven strategy.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, made the disclosure in a keynote address at the 2025 World Food Safety Day in Abuja with the theme, “Food Safety: Science in Action.”
Kachollom expressed “determined optimism” and underscored that science must no longer remain at the fringes of policy development, but be the foundation upon which all regulatory and safety interventions are built.
According to her, “by harnessing cutting-edge research, risk assessment methodologies and foodborne disease surveillance, we are building a resilient system that anticipates threats before they arise. This is not mere rhetoric. It is our blueprint for ensuring that every meal in Nigeria is safe, healthy and trustworthy,” Kachollom stated.
The permanent secretary highlighted several milestone policies spearheaded by the ministry, including the revised National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, National Guideline for Sodium Reduction and the National Guideline for Food Handlers Medical Test.
She noted that these policies have already begun to reshape food industry practices and public health outcomes.
“These guidelines have set new benchmarks for consumer protection and hygiene standards. They are not ends in themselves, but stepping stones toward a safer and more responsive food system.”
She announced plans to scale up digital traceability systems and strengthen laboratory testing protocols. Tools, she said will give regulators and industry actors real-time insights into safety lapses and enable faster and targeted interventions.
Kachollom made it clear that the country’s food safety framework must evolve continuously to meet emerging risks and the technological advancements to reshape global food systems.
In a stirring call to action, she charged all pillars of Nigeria’s food ecosystem to embrace their roles in the transformation.
In her opening remarks, the Director, Food and Drug Services Department in the ministry, Mrs Olubunmi Aribeana, stressed the collective responsibility required to maintain food safety across the entire supply chain.
“Food safety is everyone’s business from the farmer and processor to the retailer, transporter and consumer. Each of us has a role to play by adhering to standards rooted in scientific evidence,” she said.
She noted that strengthening food safety in Nigeria will not only improve public health, but also enhance consumer confidence in local food products and promote the country’s competitiveness in global trade.
In his speech, the Director and National Coordinator, Food Safety and Quality Programme in the ministry, Dr John Atanda, provided a sobering insight into the global burden of foodborne diseases, saying globally, 600 million people fall ill from unsafe food each year and, low-and middle-income countries bear the brunt of this burden with over $110 billion lost annually due to productivity loss and healthcare costs.
