Millions of Nigerians could be exposed to potentially hazardous chemicals through fruits, vegetables and other seemingly healthy food products, former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has warned.
Osinbajo said the growing use of chemicals at different points in Nigeria’s food supply chain—from farming and harvesting to ripening, transportation and preservation—was creating a serious food safety threat that consumers may be unable to detect.
He raised the concern after laboratory analysis of freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, reportedly found the product “not fit for human consumption” following persistent headaches she experienced while taking the juice.
The former vice-president disclosed this at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28. A video of his presentation was shared on his YouTube channel on Wednesday.
According to him, his wife had stopped taking carbonated drinks and switched to freshly squeezed orange juice because she considered it a healthier option.
However, after developing unusual and persistent headaches, she subjected a batch of the juice to laboratory testing after other possible causes had been ruled out.
“The results came back. It showed that the orange juice freshly squeezed was not fit for human consumption,” Osinbajo said.
He said the experience demonstrated the difficulty consumers face in determining whether food that appears fresh and natural is actually safe.
“The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe. And the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way, especially along the journey from the farm to the table,” he said.
Osinbajo alleged that potentially dangerous chemicals were being used by some farmers and traders to control pests, accelerate ripening, preserve produce and prolong shelf life.
He specifically raised concerns about the alleged use of calcium carbide to force fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes to ripen and develop colour faster.
The former vice-president cited studies and surveys which, he said, suggested that the practice was occurring in different parts of the country.
He referenced a 2024 study involving 20 fruit sellers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, saying half of those interviewed admitted using calcium carbide.
He also cited a study conducted in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which he said found that 25 per cent of surveyed fruit sellers admitted using the chemical to ripen fruits.
In Lagos, he said a 2023 survey of 50 fruit and vegetable retailers found that 22 admitted using chemicals to preserve their produce.
Beyond calcium carbide, Osinbajo listed substances that he said some traders had identified as being used in treating or preserving food products, including Gamma-lin-20, Sniper, phosphide, DDT and brodifacoum.
He described phosphide as a highly toxic fumigant and brodifacoum as a rat poison, warning of the consequences of introducing substances not intended for food preservation into the food chain.
The implications, he said, extend beyond individual consumers because the contamination can occur at several stages before food reaches the household.
“Especially along the journey from the farm to the table,” he said, underscoring the need for tighter monitoring of agricultural chemicals, food handling and market practices.
Osinbajo called for stronger regulation and enforcement across the food supply chain, arguing that government agencies must improve surveillance and prevent the use of unsafe chemicals in food production and distribution.
He also urged authorities to provide farmers and traders with safer alternatives for pest control, ripening and preservation, warning that enforcement without practical alternatives may not adequately address the problem.
For consumers, he recommended greater vigilance, including asking questions about the source and handling of food, washing produce properly and reporting suspicious practices to relevant authorities.
But he stressed that consumer vigilance alone cannot substitute for effective regulation.
“Government regulation needs to be enforced, but in a country this size, we have to be active ourselves,” he said, urging citizens to report suspicious practices and demand action within their communities.
The warning comes amid persistent concerns over food safety in Nigeria, where consumers often have limited information about how fresh produce is grown, treated, transported and preserved before reaching markets.
Osinbajo’s account therefore raises a broader public health question: if consumers cannot tell from appearance whether fruits and vegetables have been exposed to hazardous substances, how effectively is Nigeria monitoring the journey of food from farm to table?
The former vice-president called for greater collaboration among government regulators, farmers, traders, consumers and communities to strengthen food safety controls and protect Nigerians from preventable exposure to hazardous chemicals.
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