Nigeria Leads Africa in Food Waste with 38 Million Tonnes

Nigeria has been designated as Africa's top food waster, with an estimated loss of 38 million tonnes of food each year. This alarming statistic was highlighted during a statement by Zissimo Vergo, Deputy Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in Abuja, coinciding with the International Zero Waste Day.

The EU, alongside the Federal Government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, is calling for urgent action to address food waste, which not only squanders resources but also exacerbates climate change and threatens global health. Food loss and waste contribute to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions and significantly impact Nigeria's food security.

Balarab Lawal, Minister of Environment, reiterated the government's commitment to environmental protection and sustainable practices. Philbert Johnson, Director of the UNIDO Sub-Regional Office in Nigeria, emphasized the importance of efficient food systems in enhancing income and resilience.

The article stresses the need for Nigeria to invest in infrastructure and promote value-added processing to mitigate food waste.