The Federal Government has said Nigeria has exceeded the World Health Organization’s food safety target for low- and middle-income countries, following the country’s attainment of a Level 3 score in the 2025 State Party Annual Report (SPAR).
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, disclosed this during the 2026 World Food Safety Day commemoration held in Abuja with the theme, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
According to the minister, the achievement places Nigeria among leading countries in Sub-Saharan Africa with effective systems for detecting, reporting, and responding to foodborne disease outbreaks.
He attributed the progress to improved collaboration among stakeholders through the National Food Safety Management Committee and the implementation of the 2023 National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response.
Dr. Salako explained that the guidelines provide a unified national framework for disease surveillance, laboratory confirmation, outbreak investigation, food recall, traceback, and risk communication.
He described food safety as a critical national development issue with direct implications for public health, productivity, and the overall well-being of citizens.
Highlighting the global burden of unsafe food, the minister said recent estimates indicate that contaminated food causes about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually worldwide, with Africa carrying the highest per-capita burden, particularly among children under five.
He further revealed that Nigeria records nearly 50 million cases of foodborne illnesses yearly, resulting in over 53,000 deaths, while children under five account for more than 80 per cent of the burden.
The minister identified diarrhoeal pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella, and Rotavirus as major contributors to foodborne illnesses in the country, noting that they remain leading causes of hospitalisation, malnutrition, and mortality among children.
He also raised concerns over increasing chemical hazards, especially lead contamination from grains, spices, and water sources, which he said contributes to disability and premature deaths.
Dr. Salako stressed the need to strengthen food safety systems across the entire food value chain through improved surveillance, stronger hygiene and sanitation infrastructure, enhanced laboratory capacity, and stricter compliance with national food safety standards.
He called on the media to intensify awareness campaigns on food safety and commended development partners, regulatory agencies, academia, and stakeholders for supporting Nigeria’s food safety efforts.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Daju Kachollom, said this year’s theme highlights the evolving nature of food safety challenges and the link between foodborne diseases and unhealthy diets.
She advocated an integrated approach that combines food safety and health guidance to build a stronger and more resilient food system.
Kachollom also praised the contributions of the World Food Safety Day Planning Committee, the National Food Safety Management Committee, and other partners in promoting Nigeria’s One Health approach to food safety and nutrition.
Goodwill messages were delivered by representatives of the Federal Ministries of Environment, Agriculture and Food Security, and Marine and Blue Economy, as well as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), World Health Organization (WHO), Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), and the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).
The stakeholders emphasized the importance of food hygiene and safety at all stages of production and distribution, describing food safety as a shared responsibility that requires coordinated national action.
Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, noted that foodborne diseases in Nigeria are closely linked to poor sanitation, unsafe water, pollution, climate change, and poor waste management.
The Director-General of SON, represented by Mrs. Eva Edward, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to developing standards that support food safety, quality assurance, and consumer protection.
Also speaking, WHO Technical Officer for Nutrition and Food Safety, Dr. Pindar Wakawa, said safe food is a fundamental human right and essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
He noted that most foodborne diseases are preventable and urged stronger measures to protect children, improve food systems, and tackle emerging risks such as chemical contamination.