Menu Close

Lagos Governor urges consumers to ensure improved food processing, safety

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State

*Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State says the impact and consequences of harmful foods in the society are enormous, and could harm the economy

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

The need for Nigerian consumers to strictly adhere to recommended food safety measures and regulations is again receiving attention as the Lagos State Government (LASG) has urged the citizens to ensure a safer environment for food processing and safety across the state.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State Wednesday, July 28, 2021, stated this at the 1st Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition, organised by the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA).

ConsumerConnect reports the programme held at the NECA Event House, at Alausa in Lagos, with the theme “Food Safety-What is the Right Consumers Need to Know”, attracted stakeholders in the food manufacturing and vendors sectors on the country’s economy.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, Honourable Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General of Lagos State, noted that the inauguration of LASCOPA would complement the efforts of other sister agencies at ensuring food safety in the state.

He stated: “I commend the Board and Management of LASCOPA for organising this event shortly after the inauguration of the agency.

“On that occasion, I recalled calling the attention on the need to increase the level of awareness of the citizens as their rights as consumers and the processes of enforcing their rights.

“This conference is, therefore, a welcome event in providing the platform for consumers to be enlightened on their rights against injustices of poor services meted to them by manufacturers and seek redress under the law.”

He also stressed that the impact and consequences of harmful foods in the society are enormous and could harm the economy of the state.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Food safety calls for consciousness on the need to ensure that food items are kept safe at every stage.

“The advocacy along this line is not about what we consume alone, but more importantly, about the implications of these food items, many professionals often advise that the cost of unsafe food is high.

“We must all be mindful of food safety considering its inherent benefits and implications.”

He further noted: “According to United Nations, there is estimated 600 million cases of food borne diseases annually in the world.

“Also, estimated 420,000 deaths as a result of food borne disease, while children under the ages of five years carry the 40 percent of it with 125,000 deaths every year globally.”

According to him, the reports given by the UN are scary enough and call for an urgent need to rise up to ensuring a safer environment for food processing and safety.

“There is undeniable fact that the statistics from UN pointed out that unsafe food is a threat to human health and the economy.

“Access to sufficient safe food is key to sustaining life and promoting good health, this conference will help to create a scene in Lagos State and ensure that manufacturers adhere strictly to best practices and processes,” he stated.

The governor said: “The role of LASCOPA in ensuring food safety and protecting the rights of the consumers against unwholesome items is crucial and complements the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture.

“The commitment of LASCOPA has the assurances that the incidences of food borne diseases will be drastically reduced if not totally eradicated.”

The governor urged the participants at the conference to use the occasion as a platform to launch a new vista in ensuring food safety laws for consumers.

“It is my hope that this gathering of food safety experts and relevant stakeholders will serve as a platform to identifying key elements and essentials for the formation of foods safety policies,” Sanwo-Olu stated.

Kindly Share This Story

 

 

Kindly share this story