Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Benue State House of Assembly has warned farmers and food processors against using hazardous chemicals in food production, processing and preservation, raising concerns about potential health risks and gaps in the regulation of food safety across the state.
The warning followed the consideration of a report by the House Standing Committee on Food Security and Nutrition during plenary in Makurdi on Thursday, October 8, 2026. The sitting was presided over by the Speaker, Alfred Aondoaver Emberga.
According to a statement by the Speaker’s Chief Press Secretary, Zape Michael Upaa, the committee’s report was based on consultations with officials of the state ministries responsible for health and agriculture on the dangers associated with harmful chemicals across the food supply chain.
Presenting the findings, the committee’s lead presenter, Anyor Mato, warned that the indiscriminate use of chemicals during farming, food processing and storage could expose consumers to foodborne illnesses, acute poisoning and long-term health complications.
The committee expressed particular concern about unsafe practices involving detergents and calcium carbide in food processing and fruit ripening. It also raised concerns about roasting meat with burning tyres, warning that such practices could pose risks to consumers.
The lawmakers said vulnerable groups, including women, children and residents of rural communities, could be particularly affected by unsafe food production and preservation methods.
Beyond the immediate health concerns, the committee identified weaknesses in existing regulatory structures, particularly in monitoring the registration, storage, application and disposal of agricultural chemicals across the state.
It also linked unsafe food-handling practices to inadequate public awareness and limited engagement with local communities on proper food processing, packaging, preservation and post-harvest management.
According to the committee, Benue lacks comprehensive legislation specifically designed to regulate highly hazardous chemicals throughout the food production and supply chain.
The report further warned that the improper handling of pesticides, herbicides, inorganic fertilisers and fumigants could contribute to soil degradation, water contamination and unsustainable agricultural practices.
To address the concerns, the House recommended sustained public awareness campaigns by the Ministries of Health and Human Services, and Agriculture and Food Security. The campaigns are expected to educate farmers, food processors and members of the public about the dangers associated with hazardous chemicals and encourage safer practices.
The lawmakers also called for stronger enforcement of existing regulations governing the registration, storage, application and disposal of agricultural chemicals.
After deliberating on the report, Emberga commended the committee and recommended the establishment of a task force to regulate the safety of food intended for consumption in the state.
The proposed task force is expected to strengthen attention to food safety, although details regarding its membership, operational responsibilities, funding and commencement were not immediately provided in the report.
The development comes as concerns over unsafe food processing and preservation continue to attract attention in Benue. In April 2026, the assembly called on the state government to urgently address the use of toxic chemicals in food storage, with lawmakers advocating public enlightenment, enforcement and prosecution of offenders found culpable.
The latest resolution broadens the focus to include practices across farming, processing, storage and fruit ripening, as well as the environmental consequences of improperly handled agricultural chemicals.
However, the recommendations announced so far do not amount to a new law or an outright statewide ban on every chemical used in agriculture. Existing agricultural chemicals have legitimate uses when applied in accordance with approved safety requirements, while substances used improperly in food production can create serious risks.
The effectiveness of the assembly’s recommendations will depend on their implementation by the relevant ministries and any further legislative action taken to strengthen oversight and enforcement.
Benue, widely known as Nigeria’s Food Basket, depends heavily on agriculture for livelihoods and food production. Strengthening food safety measures is therefore important not only for protecting consumers but also for supporting public confidence in the state’s agricultural products.
The assembly has called for increased public education, stronger regulatory enforcement and the proposed task force as part of efforts to address the identified risks. Further details on the implementation of these measures were not immediately available.
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