Senate President Godswill Akpabio has directly connected Nigeria’s increasing rates of kidney failure and heart problems to the widespread use of harmful chemicals for fruit ripening, describing the practice as a national health emergency affecting all social classes.
Speaking during Senate proceedings covered by Platinum TV from 18:40, Akpabio painted a grim picture of the health crisis facing Nigeria. “It is a very sad thing to happen to a country. People are dropping dead in the country, people are having kidney failures and heart issues, and you don’t know they are associated with just the banana, the pawpaw, and the pineapples, and things that you buy maybe by the roadside or you send somebody to the market to go and buy for you,” he stated.
The Senate President emphasized that the crisis transcends economic boundaries. “So, it affects both the rich and the poor lives of every citizen of this country,” he added.
In response to these concerns, the Senate approved several resolutions to address the crisis comprehensively. The upper chamber expanded regulatory oversight beyond the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to include multiple agencies in fruit safety monitoring.
The Senate amended its motion to mandate broader public awareness campaigns. The resolution urges NAFDAC, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the National Orientation Agency to increase awareness through continuous sensitization and public enlightenment about the hazardous implications of chemical fruit ripening in Nigeria.
The lawmakers also targeted imported fruits, directing the Nigerian Customs Service to ensure that imported fruits, particularly apples, are not preserved with harmful chemical practices.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau advocated for criminal penalties to deter the dangerous practice. He urged the Senate to enact legislation that would prosecute and arrest Nigerians caught selling chemically ripened fruits, arguing that such measures would serve as a deterrent to anyone attempting similar practices in the future.
The Senate unanimously approved all resolutions addressing the chemical fruit ripening crisis. Senate President Akpabio directed the Committee on Legal Matters to explore legislative options that would not only ban the practice but impose severe criminal penalties.
The committee received instructions to draft provisions that would criminalize fruit ripening through dangerous chemicals, ensuring both prohibition and stiff punishment for violators.
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