By Adenike Lawal
The Nigerian Senate has begun moves to outlaw the use of harmful chemicals such as calcium carbide in fruit ripening, raising the stakes in the fight for safer food and public health protection.
This step followed a motion by Senator Anthony Okorie Ani of Ebonyi South, who decried the alarming rise in the sale of chemically ripened fruits across the country.
He warned that this illegal practice poses grave health dangers including cancer, kidney failure and other chronic illnesses.
“The markets are flooded with fruits ripened with dangerous substances,” Senator Ani said. “We cannot continue to expose our people to slow poison in the name of commerce.”
In response, the Senate directed NAFDAC and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to investigate the prevalence of toxic ripening agents and enforce existing food safety regulations.
Lawmakers also called for strict punishment for offenders and widespread public awareness campaigns to discourage the practice.
The motion was forwarded to the Senate Committees on Health and Agriculture for further action, as part of efforts to restore confidence in the nation’s food system.
