IBY
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The Senate has summoned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to address growing concerns over the use of dangerous chemicals by fruit vendors to accelerate the ripening process.
This development followed the adoption of a motion presented during Wednesday’s plenary by Senator Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi), titled “Urgent Need to Investigate and Halt the Continuous Unwholesome Practice of Chemical Ripening of Fruits in Nigeria.”
Senator Ani expressed alarm over the increasing use of hazardous substances such as calcium carbide, ethephon, and ethylene glycol chemicals often contaminated with toxic elements like arsenic and lead. He warned that such practices pose serious health risks, including cancer, liver and kidney failure, neurological disorders, and even death.
“People are unknowingly eating poison masked in the form of ripened fruits,” Ani said, noting that these practices are driven by profit motives and vendor ignorance, while regulatory enforcement remains weak.
While relatively safer substances like ethylene and methyl jasmonate are known to exist, the senator emphasized the need for strict control and public awareness. He criticized the lax enforcement of regulations and urged Nigeria to follow global best practices that prohibit the use of such chemicals.
In response, the Senate mandated NAFDAC’s leadership to appear before its Committees on Health and Agriculture to present current interventions and future plans. Additionally, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) were instructed to investigate and take urgent action.
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and NAFDAC were also tasked with intensifying public sensitization on the health dangers of chemically ripened fruits. Meanwhile, the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the Nigerian Customs Service were directed to conduct stricter checks on imported fruits especially apples to ensure they are free of harmful preservatives.
The Senate Committee on Legal Matters was also charged with reviewing existing laws to impose stiffer penalties on offenders.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio underscored the importance of protecting public health, warning that Nigeria’s fruit markets must not become breeding grounds for toxins disguised as fresh produce.
“This is a public health emergency. The health and lives of Nigerians must come before profit,” Akpabio declared.
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