The Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology (NIFST) has called for tougher enforcement of food safety regulations, including the arrest of persistent offenders, warning that public education alone cannot curb unsafe food handling practices in Nigeria.
NIFST President, Dr Biodun Osinowo, made the call on Tuesday in Lagos at a breakfast meeting with members of the Association of Nigerian Journalists and Writers of Tourism (ANJET), where stakeholders discussed food safety, regulation, public awareness and the role of Nigerian cuisine in tourism development.
Osinowo said while education remained critical to improving food safety, regulatory agencies must take decisive action against individuals and businesses that continued to endanger public health after being warned.
“When you educate, you also need to enforce,” he said, stressing that government, NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies must strengthen both awareness and enforcement of food safety regulations.
“Initially we can show love, but if that is not working, we need to arrest and put action behind it,” he added.
He also called for greater government support for regulatory agencies, including increased manpower and resources, as well as stronger involvement of local government food inspectors at the grassroots.
According to Osinowo, the Director-General of NAFDAC had told him that the agency required a minimum of 20,000 workers but currently had about 2,000, a situation he said underscored the need to strengthen regulatory capacity.
He said NIFST, through its Food Safety Committee, had been educating market women and food handlers on basic hygiene, food preservation and the dangers of using harmful chemicals in food.
NIFST Public Relations Officer, Olutaller Akinwole, said sustained public awareness was necessary because many food sellers were unaware of the health implications of unsafe practices.
“Awareness is a very critical thing,” he said, adding that the NIFST Academy was willing to collaborate with local governments, regulatory agencies and relevant associations to train food handlers.
The institute’s National Secretary, Rasaq Oke, also called for closer collaboration between NIFST, NAFDAC and other relevant agencies to educate people engaged in unsafe food practices.
“Food safety is everybody’s responsibility,” Oke said, stressing the need for collective action among regulators, food producers, vendors, consumers and other stakeholders.
Also speaking, Taiwo Ubani, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, said many people remained unaware of the risks associated with unsafe food handling, making continuous education essential.
Former Chairman of the NIFST Lagos Chapter, Sunday Bamgbose, linked food safety directly to Nigeria’s tourism potential, saying the country’s diverse cuisine could become a major international tourism attraction if safety standards were improved.
Bamgbose said the Lagos chapter had previously worked with street food vendors, educating them on safe practices and providing personal protective equipment.
He said stronger partnerships among regulators, food industry stakeholders and tourism organisations could expand such initiatives and improve confidence in Nigerian cuisine.
“If we do this, I believe we start talking of, just as we talk about Chinese food, we start talking about Nigerian food in a very short time,” Bamgbose said.
Osinowo said NIFST, established in 1976, was marking its 50th anniversary with activities including its 50th conference and annual general meeting in Lagos.
He said the institute had more than 15,000 members worldwide and 11 active chapters in Nigeria, bringing together professionals in academia, industry, government, research, regulation and hospitality.
He said the anniversary also provided an opportunity for NIFST to renew its commitment to food science, technology, food safety and capacity building.
