Reps seek tough laws against toxic chemicals in food

The House of Representatives in Nigeria is advocating for stricter food safety regulations and more stringent enforcement to safeguard Nigerians from toxic chemicals and substandard food, amid growing concerns over malnutrition, food insecurity, and diseases associated with unsafe food production methods. The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security emphasized that current policies have not sufficiently tackled the nation's nutritional issues, stressing the necessity for enforceable legislation to ensure the availability of safe, nutritious, and affordable food.

This stance was outlined by Dr. Agenti Millicent Millicent, the committee's clerk, speaking on behalf of its chairman, Chike Okafor, during a media briefing in Abuja on Friday to mark the 2026 World Food Day. Organized by the Centre for Food Safety and Agriculture Research and LoveWorld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty, the event highlighted the theme "Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow."

The chairman lamented that while numerous policies exist, few are enforceable, calling for legislative measures to address food and nutrition challenges in Nigeria. The committee expressed deep worry over persistent issues of malnutrition, stunting, wasting, and anaemia, as well as inadequate exclusive breastfeeding practices. They warned that unsafe food production and the unsupervised use of chemicals could exacerbate public health issues, including kidney and liver diseases.

The committee called for legislation to safeguard local food systems, ensure the effective use of nutrition funds, and protect children from aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods. The chairman revealed that the committee is drafting a bill to establish the Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria to regulate the profession and is actively involved in advancing a National Nutrition Bill, which is nearing completion before being sent to the National Assembly.

Additionally, the committee is probing the alleged misuse of government agricultural intervention funds by agencies and schemes not operating under the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. The committee's investigation includes collaboration with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the National Agricultural Development Board, and other relevant bodies to address concerns surrounding agricultural interventions, such as the ginger blight outbreak that devastated production in certain regions.

A food safety expert, Dr. Adebayo Segun, urged for a comprehensive examination of agricultural intervention programs and the chemicals employed in food production, cautioning that insufficient regulation could undermine food security and public health. He also advocated for the adoption of organic farming and the use of natural seeds, urging Nigerians to consider growing edible crops over ornamental ones.