Nigeria has recorded a significant milestone in public health governance as the Federal Government announced that the country’s food safety systems have surpassed the World Health Organization (WHO) benchmark for low- and middle-income nations.
This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during the 2026 World Food Safety Day commemoration held in Abuja, themed “From Burden to Solutions, Safe Food Everywhere.”
According to him, Nigeria’s 2025 State Party Annual Report (SPAR) score of Level 3 now places the country ahead of WHO’s minimum target for food safety preparedness in Sub-Saharan Africa, reflecting strengthened national capacity for disease detection, reporting, and response.
Dr. Salako explained that the achievement was driven by coordinated reforms under the National Food Safety Management Committee, which has improved collaboration across key sectors of government and regulatory agencies.
He further noted that the 2023 National Integrated Guidelines for Foodborne Disease Surveillance and Response have provided a unified framework for outbreak investigation, laboratory confirmation, traceback mechanisms, food recall systems, and risk communication across the country.
While describing food safety as a critical development priority rather than a technical concern alone, the Minister warned that unsafe food remains a major global and national health burden.
He revealed that recent global estimates indicate that unsafe food contributes to about 866 million illnesses and 1.5 million deaths annually, with Africa bearing the highest per-capita impact, particularly among children under five.
In Nigeria, he said, nearly 50 million cases of foodborne illnesses are recorded yearly, leading to over 53,000 deaths, with children accounting for more than 80 percent of the burden.
Dr. Salako attributed a large proportion of these cases to diarrhoeal pathogens such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, Shigella, and Rotavirus, which continue to drive hospital admissions, malnutrition, and preventable deaths among children.
He also raised concern over emerging chemical hazards, including lead contamination in grains, spices, and water sources, which he said are contributing to long-term health complications and loss of productivity.
“The WHO estimates are a call to action. We must intensify surveillance for heavy metals and chemical contaminants, improve hygiene practices in informal markets, strengthen water and sanitation systems, and ensure strict compliance by food vendors and operators,” he stated.
The Minister further called on the media to play a stronger role in public sensitisation, while commending the World Health Organization, development partners, regulators, academia, and other stakeholders for their continued support in strengthening Nigeria’s food safety framework.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Daju Kachollom, described food safety as an evolving national concern that requires an integrated approach linking nutrition, health, and environmental management.
She urged stakeholders to deepen collaboration and develop practical, inclusive solutions that would enhance public trust in the food system, while commending the organising committees and partners for advancing Nigeria’s One Health approach.
Goodwill messages at the event were delivered by representatives of key government ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, alongside the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the World Health Organization (WHO), Resolve to Save Lives, and the Association of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employers (AFBTE).
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, highlighted environmental degradation, poor sanitation, unsafe water, and climate change as key drivers of foodborne diseases in the country.
Similarly, the Director-General of SON, represented by Mrs. Eva Edward, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening standards that ensure food quality, safety, and regulatory compliance across the value chain.
Also speaking, WHO Technical Officer for Nutrition and Food Safety, Dr. Pindar Wakawa, stressed that safe food is a fundamental human right, noting that most foodborne diseases are preventable through strong systems and coordinated action.
He urged government and stakeholders to intensify efforts in protecting vulnerable populations, especially children, and addressing emerging risks linked to chemical contamination.
The event ended with stakeholders reiterating the need for stronger inter-agency collaboration, stricter enforcement of food safety regulations, and sustained investment in national food safety systems to enhance public health protection and ensure safer food consumption across Nigeria.
