The Federal Government of Nigeria warns that unsafe food contributes to a large public health burden in the country. Multiple outlets report that unsafe food causes roughly 53,000 deaths each year. The government also estimates that unsafe food leads to about 50 million illnesses annually, with foodborne diseases contributing to substantial loss of healthy life.
Premium Times reports that foodborne diseases result in about 4.26 million years of healthy life lost annually due to illness, disability and premature deaths. The Punch similarly cites more than 53,000 deaths and around 50 million illnesses each year. Vanguard adds further detail, stating that children under five account for more than 80% of the disease burden related to unsafe food.
Across the reports, the government’s message centers on the scale of harm linked to food safety and the need for stronger controls to reduce exposure to unsafe food. The figures cited reflect national estimates presented by the minister and reiterated by several outlets.
