The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerians to strengthen efforts toward ensuring universal access to safe and wholesome food, describing food safety as a fundamental human right.
Speaking on Monday during the agency’s 2026 World Food Safety Day celebration in Lagos, Adeyeye said protecting the nation’s food supply requires the active participation of government, food industry operators, food handlers and consumers.
Represented at the event by NAFDAC’s Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, the agency’s chief executive said this year’s theme, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere,” highlights the need for practical and sustainable interventions to reduce foodborne diseases and reinforce Nigeria’s food safety framework.
She explained that World Food Safety Day, first observed in 2019 after being proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly, reflects the international commitment to protecting public health through safer food systems.
According to Adeyeye, NAFDAC remains committed to that objective by collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Food Safety Management Committee and international partners to strengthen food safety policies and regulatory systems.
She stressed that ensuring food safety is a shared responsibility that extends across the entire food value chain, including farming, harvesting, storage, transportation, processing, distribution, retail, food service and consumption.
“Everyone has a critical role to play in ensuring that food is safe from farm to fork,” she said.
The NAFDAC boss warned that unsafe food continues to pose serious public health and economic challenges, contributing to preventable foodborne illnesses, food insecurity, avoidable deaths, reduced productivity, export rejections and significant food waste.
She noted that the 2026 World Food Safety Day theme encourages stakeholders to focus on practical, science-driven and sustainable solutions capable of delivering safe food to all Nigerians.
According to her, effective food safety depends on science-based regulation, public education, responsible industry practices, innovation and stronger collaboration among all stakeholders.
Adeyeye said improving food safety would not only protect public health but also enhance nutrition, support local and international trade, and strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s food system.
She added that NAFDAC would continue to reinforce regulatory oversight by improving surveillance systems, expanding laboratory capacity, promoting industry compliance and intensifying public awareness campaigns, particularly as food supply chains become more complex.
The agency also identified several key measures needed to improve food safety nationwide, including adherence to good agricultural practices, good hygiene practices, good manufacturing practices, proper storage and distribution systems, implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) systems, as well as public education based on the World Health Organisation’s five keys to safer food.
Adeyeye reiterated that NAFDAC’s mandate is to ensure that food products available in Nigeria meet both national and international safety and quality standards.
However, she maintained that regulation alone cannot eliminate food safety risks, stressing that stronger partnerships among government institutions, industry operators and consumers remain essential.
She noted that Nigeria has made significant progress by transitioning from largely reactive food safety measures to preventive systems through stronger regulatory oversight, risk-based approaches, increased public awareness and improved inter-agency collaboration.
The NAFDAC Director-General also urged consumers to remain vigilant by avoiding food products that lack proper labelling, valid NAFDAC registration numbers or traceable sources, emphasising that informed consumers play a vital role in safeguarding public health.
