53,000 NIGERIANS DIE ANNUALLY, 50 MILLION FALL SICK FROM UNSAFE FOOD – FG RAISES ALARM

AgricNews Digest Reporter

The Federal Government has raised the alarm over Nigeria’s worsening food safety crisis, revealing that unsafe food kills an estimated 53,000 Nigerians every year while making about 50 million people sick annually. The figures, released by the Federal Ministry of Health, paint a grim picture of what happens when food is handled, processed, or sold without proper safety standards. From contaminated water used to wash vegetables, to poorly stored grains and unregulated street food, the danger is no longer hidden. It is in our markets, kitchens, and on our tables.

This is not just a health statistic. It is an economic wound. When 50 million people fall ill each year, hospitals get overwhelmed, families lose income, and productivity collapses. Farmers lose markets when consumers lose trust. Processors lose revenue when products are rejected due to contamination. The burden falls hardest on children under 5, pregnant women, and rural households who often have no choice but to eat what is available. Food that should nourish is instead becoming a vehicle for disease, malnutrition, and death.

The Federal Government says the solution must cut across the entire food value chain. From the farm, where pesticides and dirty water must be managed properly, to processing plants that need hygiene compliance, to markets and street vendors who must adopt safe handling practices. Consumers also have a role to play by washing produce thoroughly, cooking food at safe temperatures, and demanding better from sellers. Food safety cannot be left to regulators alone. It is a shared responsibility.

53,000 deaths a year is not a number we can normalize. Food should build health, not destroy it. If Nigeria wants food security, agricultural exports, and a productive population, then safe food must be non-negotiable. The FG’s warning is clear: the time for awareness campaigns is over. What we need now is enforcement, education, and investment in cold chains, clean water, and proper storage.