ABUJA, Nigeria (FN) — As the world marks World Food Day 2025, the Consumer Advocacy for Food Safety and Nutrition Initiative (CAFSANI) has issued a scathing indictment of Nigeria’s food system, warning that millions remain trapped in hunger and malnutrition despite years of government promises and agricultural campaigns.
In a statement commemorating the global event themed “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” CAFSANI President Professor Olugbenga Ogunmoyela called for sweeping reforms and collective action across government, industry, and civil society. He accused stakeholders of failing to deliver safe, nutritious, and sustainable food to Nigerians — especially the poor and vulnerable.
“Food and nutrition insecurity remain among the most pressing development challenges in Nigeria,” Ogunmoyela said. “Despite all the noise about productivity and fortification, millions still suffer from hunger, poor-quality food, and rising prices that make balanced diets a luxury.”
The professor of Food Science and Technology at Bells University of Technology didn’t mince words, describing Nigeria’s food landscape as “fragmented, inequitable, and dangerously underregulated.” He warned that environmental pressures and limited dietary diversity are pushing the country toward a nutritional crisis.
Ogunmoyela also criticized the lack of transparency in food labeling and the slow pace of fortification programs, calling on regulators to stop “protecting manufacturers at the expense of consumers.” He urged Nigerians to hold producers accountable and demand higher standards.
“Better foods are not just about health — they’re about national survival,” he said. “We cannot build a future on empty calories and contaminated supply chains.”
CAFSANI reaffirmed its commitment to empowering consumers through advocacy, research, and policy engagement, but warned that without political will and grassroots pressure, Nigeria’s food system will continue to fail its people.
“Every meal should nourish, not endanger. Every policy should protect, not placate. The time for polite dialogue is over — we need action,” Ogunmoyela declared.
