NAFDAC's Mojisola Adeyeye Addresses Food Safety Ignorance

Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), stated that a significant number of Nigerians do not engage with food safety information, highlighting ignorance as a major challenge for the agency. In an interview with BusinessDay, Adeyeye clarified that NAFDAC's regulatory responsibilities are limited to processed and semi-processed foods, while the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is primarily responsible for fresh produce, such as oranges sold in markets.

She noted that NAFDAC does regulate pesticide use and collaborates with the Ministry of Agriculture to train farmers on proper pesticide application and harvesting times. However, Adeyeye acknowledged the vastness of Nigeria's farming population makes it challenging for NAFDAC to conduct training independently.

Additionally, she mentioned that NAFDAC receives over 200 complaints monthly regarding suspected counterfeit products, with 225 complaints reported in August alone.