Food Poisoning Menace: Garuba Blames Poor Farmer Education for Nigeria’s Growing Food Safety Crisis

The Founder of Voice of the Farmers, Afeez Olumide Garuba, has attributed the rising cases of food poisoning in Nigeria to inadequate education and awareness among farmers on safe agricultural practices.

Garuba’s concern follows recent revelations by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, who disclosed that unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, while an estimated 50 million Nigerians suffer from food-borne illnesses each year.

The alarming figures have renewed concerns over food handling, preservation methods, storage practices, and the effectiveness of regulatory oversight across the country’s food value chain.

Speaking on Villa Square, a special segment of Cr8tive 9ja—a weekly tourism and cultural magazine programme on Mainland 98.3 FM, Lagos, anchored by veteran tourism journalist Frank Meke and Bunmi Bade-Adeniji—Garuba described the statistics as a reflection of the harsh realities confronting Nigeria’s food system.

According to him, discussions around agriculture in Nigeria often focus heavily on food security while neglecting the equally important issue of food safety.

“Many people focus on food security rather than food safety,” Garuba said. “Whenever food-related issues make the news, the conversation is usually about food shortages and production levels, while food safety receives little attention. True food safety covers the entire process from farm to table. Farmers, transporters, processors, regulators and government agencies all have critical roles to play in ensuring that food remains safe for consumption.”

Garuba expressed concern over the improper application of fertilizers, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals by some farmers, warning that such practices expose consumers to harmful residues.

“There are established guidelines for applying fertilizers and agrochemicals to ensure healthy crop production,” he explained. “One of the most important requirements is observing the withdrawal period—the time needed for chemicals to break down naturally before crops are harvested.”

He lamented that some farmers, driven by the desire for quick profits, harvest crops before the recommended withdrawal period elapses.

“Because of greed and unprofessional practices, some farmers harvest prematurely and rush their produce to the market. Consumers unknowingly purchase and consume these products, exposing themselves to dangerous chemical residues that can cause serious health complications.”

The agricultural expert noted that similar practices occur in livestock production, where some farmers administer medications and fail to observe the mandatory withdrawal period before selling animals for consumption.

He stressed that while farmers bear a significant responsibility, addressing the challenge requires collective action from all stakeholders.

“Our goal is to create stronger awareness around food safety in Nigeria, beyond the usual discussions about food security,” Garuba stated. “We are actively sensitising farmers on proper storage, handling and production practices.”

He recalled that the Federal Government had previously introduced fertilizer application guidelines based on the “Four Rs” principle: the Right Source, Right Time, Right Place, and Right Rate.

According to him, adherence to these principles not only promotes food safety but also improves productivity and profitability for farmers.

“It is not just about food poisoning; it is also about economic losses,” he said. “When farmers apply excessive fertilizer in an attempt to accelerate crop growth, they are wasting resources and increasing production costs. Many simply lack the necessary training, and in the end, consumers pay the price with their health.”

Garuba called on government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), extension services and other stakeholders in the agricultural sector to intensify farmer education and awareness campaigns across the country.

He also urged regulatory agencies to strengthen enforcement of food quality and safety standards, emphasizing that safeguarding public health requires a coordinated effort. “Food safety is everybody’s business,” he said.

Also speaking on the programme, award-winning tourism journalist Frank Meke stressed the need for urgent policy reforms and proactive government intervention to tackle the growing food safety challenge.

Meke warned that the increasing incidence of food poisoning poses a serious threat to public health, particularly among children and young people, who remain highly vulnerable to food-borne diseases.

In his concluding remarks, Garuba cautioned against excessive dependence on food imports, urging Nigeria to maximise its local agricultural potential while strengthening food safety systems.

He maintained that sustainable food safety can only be achieved when the country invests in educating farmers, enforcing standards and promoting responsible agricultural practices throughout the food value chain.