Nigeria Surpasses WHO Food Safety Targets, Says Minister

Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced that Nigeria is ahead of the World Health Organization's food safety target during the 2026 World Food Safety Day event held in Abuja. He highlighted that Nigeria ranks third among countries in Sub-Saharan Africa regarding food safety, with a score of level 3 in the WHO's 2025 state party annual report.

Salako expressed concern over the high burden of foodborne diseases in Nigeria, reporting nearly 50 million cases annually, resulting in approximately 53,000 deaths. He noted that children under five account for 80% of the country's foodborne disease burden, primarily driven by diarrheal pathogens.

The minister emphasized the need to strengthen the food safety system across the entire food value chain and called for intensified surveillance of chemical contaminants. He urged stakeholders to collaborate and improve food safety practices to safeguard public health.