The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and National Orientation Agency (NOA) have warned farmers to avoid using chemicals to store and preserve food grains to preserve the health and well-being of Nigerians who consume grains as food staples.
LEADERSHIP reports that farmers in the northern part of the country use chemicals to store and preserve grains for later use because of a lack of modern storage facilities. Fatalities were recorded where unsuspecting families died after consuming chemically preserved grains in the region.
The director of NOA in Bauchi, Mrs Theresa Omaga, issued the warning while interacting with local grain dealers at Soro Grains Market in the Ganjuawa local government area.
She noted that other harmful environmental effects of using chemicals include soil, water, and air contamination, which can harm the ecosystems and wildlife.
Mrs Omaga noted that proper storage and preservation of crops are essential to maintaining their quality, reducing spoilage, and ensuring food safety while appealing to people to always adopt healthy ways to store and preserve their crops.
For his part, Hamis Yahaya, state coordinator of NAFDAC Bauchi, noted that it is part of NAFDAC’s mandate to ensure that only certified and healthy food and drugs are on the market for public consumption.
Represented by Mr Mallah Bari, the coordinator appealed to the people to use the messages brought to them by the NOA for their safety and benefits.
He urged traders to step it down to his subjects through imams and pastors in the churches and Mosques across their communities.
