NAFDAC Director General attributes food safety issues to public ignorance

Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, Director General of Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has attributed food safety concerns in the country to widespread public ignorance. In an interview with BusinessDay TV, Adeyeye stated that many Nigerians do not read or understand guidelines, specifically regarding pesticide instructions and regulatory responsibilities.

Adeyeye clarified that while NAFDAC regulates processed and semi-processed foods and controls pesticides, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture holds primary responsibility for fresh produce and training the nation's large farming population. She noted that NAFDAC works with the Ministry to provide training but cannot reach every farmer individually.

Following these remarks, actress Mary Remmy Njoku criticized the agency's stance on social media. Njoku accused NAFDAC of shifting the burden of responsibility onto consumers rather than addressing potential weaknesses in inspection, testing, and enforcement of food safety regulations.