NAFDAC's Mojisola Adeyeye Critiques Nigerians' Ignorance

Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), expressed her frustrations regarding the lack of reading and understanding among Nigerians, attributing this ignorance to food safety challenges. During an appearance on BusinessDay TV, she clarified the roles of NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in regulating food safety and agricultural chemicals.

Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC primarily oversees processed and semi-processed foods, while the Ministry of Agriculture is responsible for fresh agricultural produce. She emphasized that NAFDAC does not regulate fresh fruits sold in markets but does have a role in pesticide safety, including approving and controlling agricultural chemicals.

Adeyeye highlighted the need for educating farmers on proper pesticide application due to the high illiteracy rate in the country, which she noted is around 56 percent. She warned that misuse of pesticides often stems from farmers' inadequate understanding of product instructions.