The Senate has summoned the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to explain the growing use of harmful chemicals by fruit vendors to artificially ripen fruits across Nigeria.
The resolution followed a motion moved on Wednesday by Senator Ani Anthony Okorle, titled “Urgent need to investigate and halt the continuous unwholesome practice of chemical ripening of fruits in Nigeria.”
Leading the debate, Okorle decried the increasing shift from natural ripening to the use of dangerous chemicals that make fruits appear more appealing and ripen faster, warning of the grave health risks involved.
“Fruit ripening is a natural process that enhances sweetness, taste, nutrition, and shelf life. However, what we are witnessing is a dangerous trend where sellers use harmful chemicals solely to enhance appearance and quicken ripening,” he said.
While noting that some vendors use safer agents like ethylene and methyl jasmonate, he raised concerns over the widespread use of banned or hazardous substances such as calcium carbide, ethylene glycol, and ethephon — which may contain deadly contaminants like arsenic and lead.
“These substances have been linked to cancer, kidney and liver damage, neurological disorders, and even death,” Okorle warned.
He lamented that many fruit sellers remain unaware of the risks involved, with profit motivations driving the dangerous practice. “Consumers are unknowingly ingesting poison, misled by the healthy appearance of these chemically ripened fruits,” he added.
The Senate, in adopting the motion, urged NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to urgently investigate and address the use of chemicals in fruit ripening.
It also called on NAFDAC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to intensify public awareness campaigns about the dangers of consuming artificially ripened fruits.
To further safeguard public health, the Senate directed the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and the Nigerian Customs Service to ensure that imported fruits—especially apples—are not treated with harmful substances before entering Nigerian markets.
Additionally, NAFDAC and the FCCPC were tasked with conducting regular inspections of fruit markets across the country to detect and curb the use of toxic ripening agents.
In a move to strengthen enforcement, the Senate mandated its Committee on Legal Matters to initiate the process of amending existing laws to impose stiffer penalties on offenders.
Finally, the Senate directed its Committees on Health and Agriculture to summon NAFDAC for a briefing on its current efforts and future strategies to eliminate the use of hazardous chemicals in fruit ripening in Nigeria.
