In a bid to safeguard public health and ensure food security in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the FCT Administration (FCTA) has announced plans to commence comprehensive hepatitis screening for food handlers, particularly those employed in restaurants, markets, bakeries, and canteens.
The initiative aims to prevent the spread of hepatitis and other foodborne diseases, while empowering food businesses to operate with enhanced confidence and credibility.
This was revealed in a goodwill message from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, commemorating World Hepatitis Day 2025.
🟡 Today is World Hepatitis Day!
We’re breaking it down so every Nigerian understands the risks and the remedies.Hepatitis B and C are silent but deadly — they can cause lifelong liver disease and cancer.
The good news? They’re preventable. They’re treatable.
✅ Get tested
✅… pic.twitter.com/hUn2XCglGX— Federal Ministry of Health, NIGERIA (@Fmohnigeria) July 28, 2025
The message, delivered on behalf of the Minister by the Mandate Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, stated:
“Hepatitis A and E, primarily transmitted through contaminated food and water, can rapidly spread through poor hygiene practices, posing serious risks in our rapidly expanding and cosmopolitan city of Abuja.
“Furthermore, Hepatitis B and C, predominantly spread through blood and bodily fluids, still pose a risk in food environments where open wounds or poor hygiene are present.”
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The FCT Minister described food handlers as an overlooked group, whose role is pivotal in protecting public health.
Reiterating the Administration’s commitment, Wike announced the launch of a strategic initiative to enhance food safety through comprehensive hepatitis screening of all food handlers.
He noted that the ambitious initiative will be scaled up through an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) consortium, in alignment with the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality.
According to him, the PPP consortium will leverage the efficiency, technical expertise, and funding capacity of the private sector, while the government will provide oversight to implement regular and mandatory Hepatitis B and C screening for food handlers within the FCT.
“We urge all stakeholders — government agencies, private enterprises, healthcare providers, and food industry operators — to actively support this transformative initiative through the mandatory hepatitis screenings for food handlers, promotion of free and effective Hepatitis B vaccination at public health facilities, enforcement of standardised food safety training inclusive of hepatitis awareness, rigorous enforcement of licensing, hygiene inspections, and medical screening requirements for food vendors and handlers, and raising awareness while compassionately addressing the stigma surrounding hepatitis.
“To us, food handlers are not just service providers — they are essential public health stewards. Simple, consistent, and safe hygiene practices can significantly reduce hepatitis transmission.
“Therefore, let us break the silence. Hygiene cannot wait. Screening cannot wait. Action cannot wait. Together, let’s ensure that the FCT leads by example, turning our food industry into a symbol of health, safety, and excellence.”