Lagos State Ministry of Health in partnership with Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-governmental Relations has marked the World Food Safety Day 2023 with the theme: “Food Standards Save Lives” at Mile 12 International Market, Lagos.

In his welcome address, the Director, Environmental/Occupational Health and Safety, Ministry of Health, Dr. Theophilus Ajayi, who represented the Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye, said that the United Nations designed World Food Safety Day to promote food safety across the world.

He added that the programme was held at Mile 12 International market, one of the biggest markets in the state, to ensure that the food being sold in the market, from different parts of Nigeria and West Africa such as Ghana, are being preserved and packaged hygienically to avoid sickness.

“My directorate in charge of food safety is under the Ministry of Health and from available data, it is a great concern to the ministry that lots of sicknesses that led to death were as a result of food poison. This is the reason we are bringing this sensitisation to this market.

“This programme is, therefore, aimed at discouraging traders from adding chemicals to the food being sold, or add some other things to the food either to make the food plenty or for preservation as well as discouraging selling of spoilt food.

“Of course, the inspectorate go out daily for inspection to ensure that markets are sanitised and traders are sensitized,” he said.

The Director-General, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola said that the market has been in existence for the past 40 years with no negative report while the commemoration of World Food Safety Day was being held in the market to maintain the status quo.

He added that safety jackets were given to champion the course of safety across the state with the remark that the commemoration would be held every year.

The Chairman, Mile 12 International Market, Alhaji Shehu Jubril, who lauded the programme, assured that they have inspectors in the market, who monitor the activities within the market to ensure everything being sold is good and safe.

The Iyaloja, Orinsumbare Registered Market Association, Yeye Dupe Ojo, disclosed that women traders have been discouraged from using chemicals to preserve food.