Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – The House of Representatives has called for stronger food safety laws and stricter enforcement to protect Nigerians from toxic chemicals and adulterated food, warning that unsafe food production could worsen malnutrition and increase the risk of serious diseases.
The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security said existing policies had not adequately addressed the country’s nutrition challenges, arguing that enforceable legislation was needed to guarantee access to safe, nutritious and affordable food.
The committee’s position was contained in a speech delivered by its clerk, Dr Agenti Milicent Millicent, on behalf of its chairman, Chike Okafor, at a media briefing in Abuja on Friday to mark the 2026 World Food Day.
The event was organised by the Centre for Food Safety and Agriculture Research in conjunction with LoveWorld Ministry of Food Technology and Sovereignty under the theme, “Innovate Today, Nourish Tomorrow”.
“We have many policies, but few enforceable laws,” the chairman said, calling for legislative action to address Nigeria’s food and nutrition challenges. “We must ensure that every Nigerian, from the child in the womb to the farmer in the field, and indeed every Nigerian, has access to safe, nutritious, and affordable food, using every available legislative means,” he said.
The committee expressed concern about persistent cases of malnutrition, stunting, wasting and anaemia, alongside poor exclusive breastfeeding practices. It warned that unsafe food production and indiscriminate chemical use could contribute to public health problems, including kidney and liver diseases.
It called for laws to protect local food systems, ensure the proper use of nutrition funds and shield children from aggressive marketing of unhealthy foods.
Okafor also disclosed that the committee was working on a bill to establish the Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria to regulate the profession.
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Hope Ajayi 