The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, has called on Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a nation where every citizen has access to safe and wholesome food.
Speaking at the 2026 World Food Safety Day celebration in Lagos on Monday, Prof. Adeyeye said food safety is a fundamental human right and a critical component of public health and sustainable development.
The event, themed “From Burden to Solutions Safe Food Everywhere,” brought together stakeholders in the food sector to deliberate on measures to strengthen food safety systems in Nigeria.
Represented by the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Mrs. Eva Edwards, the NAFDAC boss noted that foodborne illnesses remain a major global health challenge, causing over 200 diseases and affecting public health, education, livelihoods and national economies.
She stressed that food safety concerns every actor along the food supply chain from farmers and processors to distributors, retailers and consumers and adding that everyone has a role to play in ensuring that food remains safe from farm to fork.
According to her, the theme of this year’s celebration calls for practical and sustainable solutions through science-based regulation, food safety education, innovation and stronger collaboration among stakeholders.
Prof. Adeyeye said Nigeria must continue to strengthen its food safety systems, including regulatory oversight, surveillance, laboratory capacity and public awareness, to protect consumers, support nutrition and boost confidence in the nation’s food system.
She advocated adherence to global best practices such as Good Agricultural Practices, Good Hygiene Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices and the implementation of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points systems.
The NAFDAC DG also urged consumers to remain vigilant by avoiding products without proper labelling, NAFDAC registration numbers and traceable sources, emphasizing that consumer awareness is a vital pillar of food safety.
“Achieving safe food everywhere requires more than regulation alone; it demands partnerships because food safety is a shared responsibility,” she said.