Nigeria is a great country with a wide range of consumer goods across the manufacturing sector. Some products are produced on our shores, while others are imported from across the globe by both renowned international and national brands. Recently, there have been many revelations about the quality of products available to Nigerian consumers, both within and outside the country.

I heard a story some years ago about the export of alcoholic beverages from Nigeria to other parts of the world, because it was believed that Nigerian beers were of better quality than those brewed elsewhere. It sounded nice that a finished product is being exported, in addition to traditional raw materials exports.

Recent reports about Made-in-Nigeria edible products being discredited in Europe. The situation is both alarming and very disturbing. Some certified consumables by the National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have brought untold ridicule to the country. This makes one question the integrity of the products, the manufacturing companies and the government agencies.

Possibly, many companies pay their way through these government agencies while they keep expanding their production capacity in the country. The unwholesome practices that abound in the country make it difficult to distinguish between genuine products and counterfeits.

Unfortunately, Nigeria is accustomed to damage control as a country; the media is mostly engaged to enlighten, educate, and re-awaken consumers’ interest in the product and the brand. This is usually after information about the hazards of consuming these products has gone viral. It is pertinent to note that some of the chemical substances used in the manufacture of these items have adverse effects on the human body over time. It also causes economic misfortune and untimely death for many Nigerians. Nigerians are not entitled to nursing illnesses for the profiteering sake of the companies.

Aside from manufacturing products, there are challenges with food production too. According to BusinessDay newspaper of June 7, 2017, Odinaka Anudu and Josephine Okojie reported that the European Union rejected 24 food products for not meeting the stipulated standard. Major products rejected include groundnut, palm oil, sesame seed, and beans. Groundnut was rejected because it contained aflatoxin, while palm oil contained a carcinogenic colouring agent. This is as a result of the extreme application of chemicals on these crops, which in turn is dangerous for human health. BusinessDay summed it up by saying that many foods and finished products of Nigerian origin are rejected in other continents on account of poor adherence to standards.

In another vein, poisonous substances are being imported from other countries for various reasons. According to a comment in Business Day newspaper, Oluwadara Alegbeleye mentioned that Nigeria is a major importer of rice from Asia. Due to the rapid industrialisation in that region, the proximity of agricultural, smelting, and mining activities to rice-growing regions is postulated to contribute significantly to the contamination of these rice varieties. The United States Food and Drug Administration warns that long-term exposure to high levels of Arsenic may predispose humans to skin, bladder and lung cancers, as well as heart disease. Other adverse health effects include kidney damage, bone defects, hypertension and cancer have been attributed to lead, cadmium and mercury toxicity.

We have got to a stage where we import and export deadly consumables. This will also negatively impact our economy, as many Nigerians in the diaspora might be denied access to their ‘delicacies’, which are believed to be nutritious. There is a need for all sectors of the economy to wake up to their responsibilities to change the ill perception that has befallen the country. Government agencies such as NAFDAC, the Standard Organisation of Nigeria, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Ministry of Health must come together to form a cohesive team for effective quality control across the board. Also, civil society, Agricultural Extension officers, and the media must not relent in their efforts to sensitise Nigerians about farm management practices, farm produce, and other products available to them. This is one of the surest ways of increasing the life expectancy of our country as a whole.

Olutayo is a PR Specialist, Atọ́kùn, Yorùbá Lákọ̀tun, Book Reviewer, Creative Writer, Cultural Advocate, Poet and Citizen Journalist. http://peodavies.blogspot.com.ng/