Nigeria records 53,000 deaths and 50 million illnesses yearly from unsafe food

Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare Dr Iziaq Salako told a press briefing in Abuja on World Food Safety Day 2026 that unsafe food in Nigeria leads to more than 53,000 deaths and about 50 million illnesses each year, resulting in a loss of 4.26 million healthy life years. He said children under five bear over 80 % of the disease burden, noting, “Most of this burden falls heavily on children under five, who account for more than 80 per cent of all foodborne disease burden in Nigeria.”

Salako identified diarrhoeal diseases as the leading cause, linked to pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, Campylobacter, Shigella and rotavirus, and warned of rising chemical hazards such as lead in grains, spices and water. He highlighted recent progress — the 2023 Joint External Evaluation and a 2025 State Party Annual Report that met WHO targets — but called for stronger surveillance, improved hygiene, and stricter compliance in informal markets. “Nigeria records nearly 50 million foodborne illnesses every year, and unsafe food causes more than 53,000 deaths annually,” he said.