The Federal Government has launched a new Food Safety Operational Manual aimed at equipping food scientists and scientific officers with advanced technical and scientific skills to improve food safety practices nationwide.
Speaking at the launch, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, stated that the initiative supports the objectives of the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its 2023 Implementation Plan. He emphasized that the manual will serve as a core tool for intensive training, enabling professionals to enhance food monitoring, regulation, and public health protections at all levels.
“This manual is designed to strengthen the capacity of our food scientists and scientific officers, arming them with the latest scientific techniques to safeguard the quality and safety of food across Nigeria,” Pate said.
The Minister also highlighted collaborative efforts between the federal and state governments in recent years, including the development of tailored national guidelines to tackle region-specific food safety issues. These joint initiatives, he said, are designed to ensure that all communities urban and rural benefit from effective, context-sensitive food safety strategies.
As part of a broader campaign to raise food safety awareness at the grassroots level, the Ministry is partnering with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Through this partnership, trained corps members will help educate communities on best practices for food safety, particularly in hard-to-reach areas.
“We are harnessing the energy and innovation of our youth through the NYSC to promote sustained food safety awareness nationwide even in the most remote parts of the country,” Prof. Pate added.
The launch of the manual represents a significant milestone in the government’s wider efforts to strengthen public health infrastructure and ensure that all Nigerians have access to safe and high-quality food.
