By Adeola Ogunlade
The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye has called on Nigerians to be conscious of food poison and therefore maintain a maximum level of hygiene in the type of food they take.
Ogboye who gave the advice was represented yesterday by the Director, of Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety, Ministry of Health, Dr. Theophilus Ajayi at the United Nations designated World Food Safety Day 2023 with the theme: Food Standards Saves Lives which took place at Mile 12 International Market, Lagos.
The programme was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Health (Occupational Health and Food Safety) in partnership with the Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-governmental Relations (Lagos State Safety Commission).
Ogboye said the programme was the 5th edition taking place all over the world and was held to inspire every Nigerian to take concrete steps towards achieving safe food handling by collaborating and partnering with the organisers.
“We all have a role to play in ensuring food safety”.
“Available data has indicated that a lot of people have died as a result of food poison and this is the reason the ministry has come to this market to ensure that every food from the farm to the market and to various homes is safe and that all the handlers including to the sellers are hygienic.
“We are discouraging the use of chemicals to preserve food,” he said.
The Director General, of Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola said the reason for holding the World Safety Day in the market was to ensure that quality food is being sold in the market.
Majola said that food safety is important because it affects every one of you. Unsafe food can use illness, in some cases death. Therefore, it is important to ensure food is safe to eat.
He added that protective jackets were given to the marketers to promote safe food in the market.
The Iyaloja, Orisunmbare registered market association asked the government to go digital with a view to continuing partnering with the marketers who have been ensuring that do not use chemicals anymore while the Chairman, Mile 12 International Market, Alhaji Shehu Jubril lauded the cooperation between the market and the Lagos State government.