The Federal Government has raised fresh concerns over food safety in Nigeria, revealing that unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths and nearly 50 million illnesses annually across the country.
Speaking during activities marking the 2026 World Food Safety Day in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, described foodborne diseases as a major public health threat, particularly to young children.
According to the minister, the impact of unsafe food goes beyond sickness and death, affecting the growth, development and future potential of millions of Nigerians.
“Nigeria records nearly 50 million foodborne illnesses every year, and unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths annually,” Salako said.
He disclosed that children under the age of five bear the greatest burden, accounting for over 80 percent of food-related disease cases in the country.
“Most of this burden falls heavily on children under five. The true cost of unsafe food is not only measured in sickness and death but also in the lost developmental potential of our children,” he added.
The minister identified diarrhoeal diseases as the leading food-related illness in Nigeria, revealing that more than 40 million cases are linked to contaminated food and harmful pathogens.
“Over 40 million diarrhoeal illnesses in Nigeria are linked to foodborne pathogens,” he said.
Salako also warned about the growing danger posed by chemical contamination, including lead exposure from contaminated grains, spices and water sources.
Despite the alarming figures, the minister said Nigeria has made progress in strengthening its food safety systems, noting that recent evaluations showed improvements in the country’s ability to detect, report and respond to foodborne disease outbreaks.
“Nigeria is now one of the leading countries in the region in establishing functional systems for detecting, reporting and responding to foodborne disease events,” he stated.
Also speaking at the event, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stressed the importance of maintaining strong food safety measures to reduce the burden of food-related illnesses nationwide.
The event was held under the theme: “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
