Reps seek tough laws against toxic chemicals in food

The House of Representatives has called for more stringent food safety legislation and enhanced enforcement to shield Nigerians from toxic chemicals and substandard food, amid growing concerns about malnutrition, food scarcity, and health issues stemming from unsafe food production practices. The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security highlighted that current policies have not effectively tackled Nigeria's nutritional issues, advocating for enforceable legislation to guarantee access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

This stance was articulated by the committee's clerk, Dr. Agenti Millicent Millicent, speaking on behalf of the committee's chairman, Chike Okafor, at a media event commemorating World Food Day in Abuja. The event, organized by the Centre for Food Safety and Agriculture Research in collaboration with LoveWorld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, aimed to address the theme "Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow."

The chairman emphasized the absence of enforceable laws despite numerous policies, stressing the necessity of legislative action to address food and nutrition challenges across all segments of Nigerian society. The committee expressed alarm over persistent issues such as malnutrition, stunting, wasting, and anaemia, as well as poor breastfeeding practices, warning that unsafe food production and the misuse of chemicals could exacerbate public health problems, including kidney and liver diseases.

They called for legislation to safeguard local food systems, ensure the effective use of nutrition funds, and protect children from unhealthy food marketing. The committee is currently drafting a bill to establish the Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria to regulate the profession and is also supporting a National Nutrition Bill backed by the Presidency through the Office of the Vice-President, which has progressed significantly.

Additionally, the committee is probing the alleged misuse of government agricultural intervention funds by entities operating beyond the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, involving agencies like the Central Bank of Nigeria and the National Agricultural Development Board. Advocates, including food safety expert Dr. Adebayo Segun, urged for a thorough investigation into agricultural intervention programs and the chemicals used in food production, stressing that poorly regulated inputs could jeopardize food security and public health.

Segun also advocated for organic farming and natural seeds, urging Nigerians to consider planting edible crops over ornamental ones. The committee acknowledged that tackling Nigeria's food and nutrition challenges requires coordinated efforts from federal and state governments, lawmakers, civil society organizations, and development partners, noting the country's potential to combat hunger and malnutrition given its arable land, water resources, and human capital.