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Economic Hardship: Adulterated foods flooding Nigerian markets; palm oil mixed with dye, lard, FG warns

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The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has raised the alarm over the increase in adulterated and contaminated foods in the markets.

FCCPC acting executive vice-chairman Adamu Abdullahi said in Abuja on Thursday that some traders were engaging in various forms of adulteration without considering the health implications for consumers.

Mr Abdullahi said this at a one-day sensitisation for traders, farmers, civil society organisations (CSOs), and the public on the forceful ripening of fruits, adulterated palm oil, contaminated meat, and grains.

Mr Abdullahi said the move would ensure a healthier society in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

He said the acts establishing the FCCPCFC gave it powers to evacuate fake and adulterated products from the markets to prevent consumers from purchasing them.

“We will go to the markets to sensitise the traders and educate the public and sellers that adulterated, fake products are not allowed in the markets, and if they see any, they have somewhere to report.

“We are going to markets in the states, the grassroots, and farms to find out the sharp practices going on and to ensure we get a healthier society in line with President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’.

“We have to ensure that the goods in the markets are according to the standard that they should be,” he said.

Femi Stephen of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare described adulteration as the addition of substandard substances that have the same properties as the food with which they are mixed.

Mr Stephen said palm oil was adulterated with dye, lard (animal fat from pork), and transformer oil (paraffin), warning that adulteration is linked to various health challenges.

He listed some health issues linked to adulteration, such as abdominal pain, nausea, brain damage, stomach disorder, cardiac arrest, liver disease and breathing difficulties.

Mr Stephen urged farmers to seek experts’ guidance in applying pesticides to avoid poisoning.

Promise Ogbonna of the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said that forceful fruit ripening is detrimental to health. She said calcium carbide used for the forceful ripening of fruits was arsenic and phosphorus, which had been said to be carcinogenic.

Edozie Ugwu, the vice-president (North-Central) of the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS), commended the FCCPC for the sensitisation.

Mr Ugwu said that many Nigerians had lost their vital body organs to food adulteration. He said the market associations would collaborate with the FCCPC and other government agencies to ensure that the law penalised any trader found wanting in the practice.

“What we intend doing is to take this back and sensitise our traders on the importance of avoiding these adulterated foods. We plead that this be extended to various markets,” he said.

The market associations, including market women associations and members of the Food and Hygiene Association of Nigeria, were present at the event.

(NAN)

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Suspected gunmen kill brother of village Imam, one other in Niger

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Suspected bandits have attacked Kulho and Maikade villages in Mashegu Local Government Area of Niger State, killing two residents and injuring others.

According to a post by security analyst, Bakatsine on X on Thursday, the attack happened late Wednesday night when armed men stormed the two neighbouring villages.

One of the victims was identified as Alhaji Yahaya, the brother of the Imam of Kulho village. The Imam was also injured during the attack but survived.

Another victim, Alhaji Bello Maikade, a respected community member in Maikade village, was also killed during the incident.

“Yesterday night, bandits stormed Kulho and Maikade villages in Mashegu LGA, Niger State. They killed Alhaji Yahaya, the brother of Kulho’s Imam (who was injured but survived) and also murdered Alhaji Bello Maikade,” Bakatsine wrote.

Authorities are yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.

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Sex worker dies in Ondo brothel altercation

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Operatives of the Ondo State Police Command have arrested three people over the death of a commercial sex worker at a brothel in Akure.

One of the suspects had sought the services of the deceased but demanded a refund of his N15,000 following the alleged failure of the sex worker to satisfy his desire.

According to the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Olayinka Ayanlade, the incident occurred at the weekend in a popular brothel in the Cathedral area of Akure, the Ondo State capital.

Ayanlade stated that during a sexual activity with one of the suspects, the sex worker complained of tiredness, which infuriated the customer. This then escalated into a heated altercation between the manager of the brothel, the deceased, and the suspect, as well as friends he had invited to help retrieve the money initially paid for the services.

The police spokesperson said: “At approximately 10 am on June 29, the manager of the brothel reported to the station under the jurisdiction of A Division that there had been a violent altercation between a sex worker and a male customer earlier that morning. The disagreement began when the sex worker reportedly complained of sudden weakness during an encounter and could no longer continue providing the agreed services.

“The police acted swiftly and professionally; while the victim was being rushed to a nearby hospital in the Lafe area, officers at the scene simultaneously effected the arrest of three suspects involved in the incident. The victim was later referred to the Police Hospital in Akure but was, unfortunately, declared dead on arrival by a medical officer. Her body has since been deposited at the State Specialist Hospital morgue for autopsy.”

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Accident claims four lives along Enugu-Port Harcourt highway

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 Four persons have been confirmed dead following a fatal accident that occured at Amorji community, Isiala Ngwa North LGA of Abia State along the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway on Saturday.

The accident, which involved a Truck conveying goods to Umuahia, happened at about 5:00 am, leaving eight passengers seriously wounded.

Some reports claimed that the accident was caused by brake failure, while another villager opined that it may have been caused by poor visibility on the part of the driver.

Personnel of the Abia State Emergency Medical Service, EMS, who arrived at the scene of the accident soon after they were alerted by community members, evacuated the victims to the hospital with their ambulance.

Confirming the sad development to DAILY POST on Sunday, the Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Abia State Command, Ngozi Ezeoma said that the accident involved eleven male passengers and one female.

Ezeoma explained that four of the dead victims were male, while eight other passengers, seven male and one female, were injured and are receiving treatment in the hospital.

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