FOOD POISONERS SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE TERRORISTS,’ NSPRI BOSS, SANNI

Professor Lateef Oladimeji Sanni has called for severe punishment for those who knowingly contaminate food for profit, while outlining practical steps to improve food safety, strengthen enforcement and reduce post-harvest losses in Nigeria.

Sanni made the submission during the fifth edition of the ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse, held virtually on Sunday, 25 October 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. West African Time with the theme, “Poison on the Plate: Confronting Nigeria’s Epidemic of Fake and Adulterated Food Items”.

Joined by Prof. Beatrice Opeolu, they examined food adulteration, unsafe preservation practices, public health, regulatory enforcement and the responsibilities of those involved in producing, processing, transporting and selling food.

The Distinguished Discussants argued that protecting Nigerians requires stronger food inspection, reliable laboratory testing, public education, traceability across the food supply chain and sustained investment in research institutions.

According to them, food should nourish people, not expose consumers to avoidable danger. Where individuals deliberately compromise food safety for profit, Sanni argued, the law must respond with severe penalties that reflect the seriousness of the offence.

WHY “POISON ON THE PLATE” MATTERS

Food safety is not limited to what happens in the kitchen. It begins with production and continues through processing, storage, transportation, retail and consumption.

Food may become unsafe through microbial contamination, poor handling, unsuitable storage conditions, excessive or unauthorised chemical use, or deliberate adulteration intended to improve appearance, disguise spoilage or increase profit.

The challenge is particularly important in Nigeria, where agricultural produce often passes through several stages before reaching consumers.

Weak storage facilities and poor preservation can cause losses even before food reaches the market. Deliberate contamination creates a separate danger because consumers may have no obvious way to identify the substances involved.

At the discourse, Sanni addressed both sides of the problem. He explained how appropriate preservation technologies can protect food and livelihoods, while warning that dangerous chemical practices and deliberate adulteration can undermine public health.

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His submissions also raised questions about accountability. Food sellers, processors and manufacturers must comply with safety requirements, but regulators, research institutions and public officials also have responsibilities that cannot be ignored.

FROM PALM OIL TO ALCOHOL: THE CONTAMINATION CONCERNS

The discussants identified several reported cases and practices that illustrate the range of food safety concerns facing Nigerian consumers.

These included suspected chemical adulteration, the misuse of pesticides, the sale of unregistered products and unsafe practices involving meat, fish, vegetables and alcoholic drinks.

Sanni cited reports of palm oil adulteration involving azo dyes and other potentially hazardous contaminants. Fufu and other cassava products also featured in his account.

Sanni referred to allegations that detergents or bleach had been used to speed up fermentation, including a study in Rivers State that reportedly found detergent residues in commercially sold fufu. He also raised concerns about unbranded products that may escape effective regulatory oversight.

Another concern was the misuse of pesticides on beans, stockfish and crayfish. Sanni warned about the use of products such as Sniper on food items and the potential health dangers associated with exposure to inappropriate chemicals.

On meat and fish, Sanni raised concerns about allegations of formalin use to prolong shelf life. He also referred to warnings that the absence of flies around meat should not, by itself, be taken as proof of freshness or safety.

The alcoholic drinks market formed another part of the discourse.Prof Opeolu cited a suspected counterfeit alcohol production facility discovered in the South-East, as well as reports from Lagos of wine bottles being refilled and relabelled with adulterated drinks. She also referred to expired drinks allegedly being revalidated for resale and the discovery of more than 100 sacks of empty bottles.

The discussants however cautioned against making unsupported claims about the contribution of contaminated food to cancer, liver disease, kidney disease and high blood pressure.

According to them, Nigeria’s ability to establish such links is limited by gaps in systematic monitoring and data collection. The broader lesson is that food safety requires evidence.

They reasoned that public concern is justified, but reliable testing, transparent reporting and credible surveillance are necessary to establish the scale of a problem and identify its causes.

Detection must also go beyond appearance.

Sanni further posited that Rapid Screening Kits can help identify selected dyes, formaldehyde, pesticide residues and aflatoxin. However, he says a positive screening result may require confirmation through an accredited laboratory using validated analytical methods, including chromatography or mass spectrometry.

For consumers, Sanni recommended buying from reliable sources, checking labels and expiry dates, and verifying NAFDAC registration where applicable. Unusual colour, smell or an unusually low price may justify caution, but none of these signs alone proves that a product has been adulterated.

Anyone who suspects that food is contaminated should avoid tasting it to test the suspicion. Cooking should not be assumed to make every chemical contaminant harmless. Suspected products should be kept aside and reported to the appropriate authorities.

SHOULD DELIBERATE FOOD POISONERS BE TREATED AS TERRORISTS?

The most forceful part of Sanni’s submission concerned the punishment for people who knowingly contaminate food.

He referred to a statement made on 21 October 2026 by Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, who called for the death penalty for counterfeiters following the discovery of a suspected counterfeit alcohol production facility in Aba.

Sanni agreed that people who deliberately introduce dangerous substances into food for financial gain put human lives at risk. He drew a comparison with terrorism, arguing that a person who knowingly sells dangerously adulterated food, while understanding the possible consequences, may expose innocent people to serious illness or death.

For Sanni, the intention and potential consequences of such conduct demand serious consideration. He called for the severest possible penalties for those who knowingly and deliberately poison food for profit.

He also stated that where evidence establishes intentional conduct that causes death, offenders should face the full consequences under applicable criminal law. He personally believes capital punishment should be considered in the most serious intentional cases, subject to due process and the law.

However, his position included an important distinction.

Not every food safety violation necessarily involves the same level of intent or recklessness. Some people may breach requirements without fully understanding the consequences. Ignorance does not automatically excuse an offence, but the evidence, intention, degree of recklessness and harm caused should inform the appropriate punishment.

The comparison with terrorism therefore formed part of his argument about the seriousness of deliberate harm, rather than a claim that every violation should automatically be classified as terrorism under Nigerian law.

The distinction matters because effective enforcement must combine strong penalties with credible evidence, fair investigation and due process. Public anger cannot replace proof, and punishment must follow the law.

The ValidViewNetwork Monthly Global Discourse remains the platform’s signature conversation series, connecting knowledge with action through discussions that bring wider perspectives into contact with Nigerian realities.

ValidViewNetwork Limited, founded by Dr Kayode Ogunjobi, FHEA, FFAN, operates on three strategic pillars: Media, Consultancy and Advocacy.

Its work focuses on credible news reporting, environmental and academic advisory services, public-interest advocacy, evidence-based communication, sustainable development, institutional strengthening and community-focused interventions.

Mr Lanre Ogundipe, former President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and of the African Union of Journalists, chairs its Advisory Council.

ValidViewNetwork has invited stakeholders to the Sixth Edition, scheduled for Sunday, November 29, 2026.