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Senate Summons NAFDAC Over Unwholesome Fruit Ripening Practices

Senate summons NAFDAC over unwholesome fruit ripening practices
File image of the Nigerian Senate.
The Senate on Wednesday summoned National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to explain the unchecked use of harmful chemicals by fruit vendors to hasten the ripening of fruits.
This followed the adoption of a motion moved by Sen. Anthony Ani (APC-Ebonyi) during plenary in Abuja.
The motion is titled ‘Urgent Need to Investigate and Halt the Continuous Unwholesome Practice of Chemical Ripening of Fruits in Nigeria.’
READ ALSO:NAFDAC Reopens Onitsha Drug Market After Weeks Of Operation
Ani lamented that the increasing trend of chemically induced ripening is a “dangerous deviation from natural ways for fruits to ripen”.
He explained that while fruits which are naturally ripened have better sweetness, texture and nutritional content, many vendors now turn to harmful agents to force the process and improve appearance for commercial gains.
“Ethylene and methyl jasmonate may be considered relatively safe,” Ani noted.
He, however, added that the problem lies with the widespread use of substances like calcium carbide, ethephon and ethylene glycol chemicals laced with toxic residues, including lead and arsenic.
READ ALSO:Beware Of Fake Oxycontin In Circulation, NAFDAC Warns Public
The lawmaker warned that these substances are known to cause severe health problems such as cancer, kidney damage, liver failure, neurological disorders and, in extreme cases, death.
Ani attributed the spread of the practice to profit-driven motives and lack of awareness among fruit vendors.
“People are unknowingly eating poison masked in the form of ripened fruits,” he said.
The senator also criticised the failure of regulatory enforcement by relevant agencies, stating that many countries have outlawed such chemicals, while Nigeria lagged behind in implementing effective measures.
READ ALSO:Continuous Closure Of Onitsha Drug Market: Traders Sue NAFDAC, SON, NSCDC For N1 bn
The Senate, however, resolved for NAFDAC management to appear before the Committees on Health and Agriculture to detail its current interventions and outline future steps to combat chemical ripening.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) were directed to investigate the matter and initiate urgent action.
It also mandated NAFDAC and the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to increase public education on the health risks associated with artificially ripened fruits;
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The Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service and Nigerian Customs Service were equally tasked with stricter inspections on imported fruits, especially apples, to ensure they are free of harmful preservatives.
The Senate Committee on Legal Matters was instructed to begin reviewing existing laws to introduce stiffer penalties for violators.
The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, stressed that safeguarding public health must remain a top priority.
He warned that the country’s fruit markets must not become breeding grounds for toxic substances disguised as fresh produce.
(NAN)
News
‘We Cure Madness With Madness’: Five Things To know About Taye Currency

The name ‘Taye Currency’ has continued to trend on social media following the Fuji music artiste’s performance at the coronation of the 44th Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, on Friday.
Taye Currency, during his performance at the coronation event which took place at Mapo Hall in Ibadan, rendered a line in Yoruba, “Were la fi n wo were,” which translates to “we cure madness with madness.”
The line, which seems not to have sat well with many Nigerians, particularly those of Yoruba heritage, has continued to generate a lot of criticism, with many opining that such lyrics were not befitting for the occasion, which had in attendance dignitaries including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors, ministers, traditional rulers, and other crème de la crème of society.
Reacting to the development, the Olu of Kemta Orile in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba Adetokunbo Tejuosho, criticised Taye Currency for what he described as “classless and unbefitting lyrics.”
According to him, the musician failed to accord the coronation its due respect, describing his lyrics as unbefitting of the sacred ceremony.
READ ALSO:Ogun Monarch Slams Taye Currency Over Performance At Olubadan Coronation
He said, “The throne of our ancestors is not a stage for mockery, nor the coronation of a great monarch a subject for careless entertainment.
“Kingship is sacred, adorned with honor and guarded by tradition. It demands reverence, dignity, honor, class and the utmost respect from all who stand in its presence.
“Listening to the musician (Taye Currency), who was invited to render music before the Crown, as a matter of fact before the entire world, to serenade the audience and sing in a way to express admiration, singing songs like (were lafi n wo were) We use madness to cure madness.
“Such lyrics were classless and unbefitting of such occasions, it is insulting to the sacredness of the gathering.”
While Taye Currency is well known among Fuji music lovers, especially those from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, his performance at the Olubadan coronation has made people want to know more about him.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: Ladoja Crowned 44th Olubadan, Set To Receive Staff Of Office
In this article, Tribune Online takes a look at five things to know about the trending Fuji musician.
1. Full Name and Age
His full name is Taye Akande Adebisi. Apart from his popular stage name, Taye Currency, he is also known as ‘Apesin.’ He celebrated his 50th birthday on December 17, 2024.
2. Appointment as Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, appointed him as Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism in 2019 during the governor’s first tenure.
READ ALSO:Olubadan Unveils Economic Plan For Ibadanland
3. Father of a Lawmaker
In 2019, Taye Currency’s son, Yusuf Oladeni Adebisi, was elected into the Oyo State House of Assembly to represent Ibadan South-West Constituency 1, which earned Taye Currency another nickname, ’Baba Honorable’ (Honourable’s father). He was re-elected in 2023 as a lawmaker on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
4. Financial Setback
In April 2025, Taye Currency publicly lamented that he lost N10 million to CBEX, a crypto/investment scheme many now regard as a collapsed Ponzi platform. He explained that he was convinced to invest by close associates, only to see the scheme crumble shortly after.
5. Affiliation with Pasuma
Taye Currency has often maintained that although he never learnt Fuji music from his senior colleague, Wasiu Alabi Odetona, popularly known as Pasuma, whom he first met in 1993, he still considers him a boss.
News
JUST IN: PENGASSAN Strike May Trigger Nationwide Blackout, Thermal Plants Shut Down

Nigerians may face a nationwide blackout from Monday as power generation companies have raised the alarm over an imminent shutdown of thermal plants following directives from the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary of the Association of Power Generating Companies, Joy Ogaji, raised the alarm over the imminent blackout in a WhatsApp message on Sunday.
She revealed that gas suppliers had issued notices to halt supply to thermal power stations in line with PENGASSAN’s strike resolution.
READ ALSO:Why We Rejected Govt’s Plan To Sell Assets – PENGASSAN President
“Good day, all. Thermal GenCos have received notification from our gas suppliers to shut down our thermal power plants following directives from PENGASSAN. The Nigerian Gas Infrastructure Company has specifically requested GenCos to comply,” Ogaji said in the post.
She warned that the development could plunge the country into darkness, as hydroelectric dams alone cannot sustain the national grid.
“Please all be notified of the imminent darkness, as hydros alone cannot sustain the system,” she added.
READ ALSO:PENGASSAN Shuts OML-18 Over Labour Dispute With NNPC Subsidiary
The warning comes hours after PENGASSAN announced that it would commence a nationwide strike on Monday to protest the dismissal of over 800 workers at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The oil workers’ union, after an emergency National Executive Council meeting on Saturday, directed its members in all oil and gas installations to down tools until the sackings were reversed.
The action could cripple crude production, fuel supply, gas distribution and now electricity generation, worsening the hardship faced by Nigerians.
With thermal stations accounting for more than 70 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity supply, industry experts say the shutdown will trigger widespread outages, stretch hydro plants beyond capacity and heighten the risk of a nationwide system collapse.
News
Customs Launches One-stop-shop To Cut Cargo Clearance To 48 Hours

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says it has officially introduced its ‘One-Stop-Shop (OSS)’ initiative aimed at reducing cargo clearance time to 48 hours.
NCS spokesperson, Abdullahi Maiwada, made this known in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.
Maiwada said the initiative was unveiled recently during a meeting between NCS management and Customs Area Controllers, chaired by the Comptroller-General (C-G), Adewale Adeniyi, in Abuja.
He said the meeting deliberated on the service’s modernisation agenda and the role of leadership in driving reforms across commands.
READ ALSO:10 Things Candidates Should Know About Customs Recruitment CBT Exams
Maiwada quoted the C-G as describing the OSS as a “transformative shift” which aligned with global best practices and the Federal Government’s Ease of Doing Business policy.
Adeniyi said the reform was designed to sanitise operations, reduce duplication of efforts and ensure predictability in customs procedures.
“The OSS initiative will not only shorten clearance time from 21 days to 48 hours, but it will also strengthen trader confidence, restore transparency and make our operations more business-friendly,” Adeniyi said.
The C-G acknowledged the role of technology in customs operations but also emphasised the importance of physical engagement with officers.
READ ALSO:Customs Seize N905m Rolls Royce, Other Contrabands In Ogun
“As much as technology has helped us, it has its limits. There are moments when physical presence, coming together under one roof, adds weight and value to our deliberations,” he said.
The NCS boss said the reform would be piloted at Apapa, Tin Can Island and Onne Ports before being rolled out nationwide.
He added that the initiative was constitutionally supported by the NCS Act 2023 and aligned with the World Trade Organisation’s Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA).
“This is not just a policy. It is a statement of intent that reflects our determination to build a modern, transparent and trader-friendly Customs Service,” he said.
READ ALSO:Customs Intercepts N5.1b Illicit Drugs From India, Canada At Lagos Airport
The spokesperson said that under the OSS framework, all customs units would work jointly on flagged declarations, eliminating multiple checks and reducing delays.
According to him, consignments cleared under the OSS will not be subject to re-interception, thereby reducing costs and enhancing trade facilitation.
He said the meeting also provided a platform to review the NCS accountability framework, including a new central dashboard that tracks clearance times, interventions and stakeholder satisfaction.
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