The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening food safety systems and promoting healthier diets as part of efforts to reduce foodborne diseases and non-communicable illnesses across the country.
Speaking virtually at the commemoration of the 2026 World Food Safety Day in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Mr Iziaq Salako, said the government is implementing a series of reforms aimed at ensuring that food consumed by Nigerians is both safe and healthy.
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The minister said Nigeria has made significant progress in food safety governance, citing improvements recorded during the country’s 2023 Joint External Evaluation and its 2025 State Party Annual Report assessment, which places Nigeria ahead of the World Health Organization’s target for many low- and middle-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
According to him, the government has strengthened coordination through the National Food Safety Management Committee and established a unified national system for foodborne disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, food recall and risk communication.
Salako disclosed that Nigeria is also addressing dietary risk factors linked to rising cases of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, diabetes and obesity through policies designed to reduce excessive consumption of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
“The country has developed National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction in line with global standards, while the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has finalized draft regulations to limit sodium content in processed foods”.
The minister further stated that Nigeria is implementing regulations to eliminate industrial trans fats and is strengthening the sugar-sweetened beverage tax as part of broader efforts to encourage healthier food choices.
He added that plans are underway to introduce front-of-pack food labelling to help consumers make informed decisions about the nutritional content of products.
While acknowledging the progress made, Salako emphasised the need for greater investment in food safety surveillance, laboratory systems, market hygiene and public awareness to address the country’s foodborne disease burden.
He called on food producers, vendors, researchers, development partners and consumers to support government efforts by adopting safer food handling practices, improving product quality and promoting healthy diets.
The minister described food safety as a critical national health security issue and urged all stakeholders to work together to achieve the World Food Safety Day theme, “From Burden to Solutions – Safe Food Everywhere.”
He maintained that ensuring access to safe and nutritious food remains essential for protecting public health, boosting productivity and safeguarding the future of Nigerian children.
