Ogbeh warns on poisonous food intake
The Minister of agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh
Says grazing land problem is being addressed
The Federal Government yesterday warned Nigerians on the poisonous intake of some food items on a daily basis, which arose from wrong habit of processing and preserving them.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Audu Ogbeh, made the disclosure yesterday at a one-day public hearing on food security bills organised by the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development.
He specifically gave example of ‘moin-moin’ prepared in cellophane, locally known as ‘nylon’, as poisonous, which according to him, contain a large dosage of dioxins that are naturally impotent in leaves when used to package the delicacy.
Ogbeh, who also pointed out that consumption of sachet (pure) water exposed to sun at over 28° centigrade is poisonous, resulting into many cases of kidney and liver failure among Nigerians, said if not for our practice of over-boiling meat, many Nigerians would have been infected by Tuberculosis (TB) from consumption of cow meat.
He said: “Many of the cows being moved from one place to the other by herdsmen are already infected with tuberculosis but our practice of boiling meat very well here has been the saving grace for people not being infected with the deadly disease.
“Smuggled frozen chicken preserved with formalin, which is also used for preservation of dead bodies, have been potent poison being consumed by Nigerians with attendant serious health challenges in the land.”
The minister, who cited example of beans and grains preservation with over-dosage of pesticides by farmers and sellers as another dangerous food poison that had killed many Nigerians and still killing unsuspecting buyers and consumers, noted that wrong application of fertiliser by farmers on their farmland has also led to poisonous consumption of food items.
“Unknowingly to many of the farmers, there is specific fertiliser for specific crops in specific state in line with soil texture”, he explained.
Ogbeh commended the Senate committee for working on the bills, Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service Bill 2016, Food Security Bill 2016 and Nigerian Institute of Soil Science Bill 2016, which according to him, would help in food security in the country and curb production of poisonous foods, saying: “Rejection of Nigerian farm produce abroad is embarrassing.”
He assured Nigerians that the problem of farmers/Fulani herdsmen would soon be over, as the ministry would soon come up with an acceptable policy on grazing reserves.
In his speech at the occasion, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, said the need for food security in the country and vibrant agricultural sector for the needed diversification of the nation’s economy, moved the Senate into introducing the bills and working on them.
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3 Comments
The question should be put to NAFDAC what do have to say or doing or have done about Chief Ogbe’s observations for Nigerians?
Dear Sir, Dr. Audu Ogbeh,
Friends have referred me to publication of your statements about biotech-based agric and GM foods before I was referred to this publication. I wish to take advantage of the reference to this publication to share FUNDAMENTAL facts with you about these.
ALL the safety studies so far carried out on genetically modified foods (raw and processed, e,g, boiled) and genetically modified food ingredients—–beginning with the GM tomato produced by Calgene Incor. USA, and called Flavr savr (1992-1998), including the GM potato provided by Scottish ministry of agric. and studied for safety by by Prof A. Pusztai, peer reviewed by Prof. SWB Ewen (1998), and including the the GM corn repeat safety study by Giles-Eric Seralini et al, 2012 and re-validated in 2014 —–showed VERY CLEARLY that they are POISONOUS to stomach and intestinal mucosa, kidney, liver and heart.
Are you aware, or not aware, of this TRUTH?
The last reference, Seralini et al, 2012 and 20114, provides the greatest evidence. picture.
Are you aware that NO safety study of any GM food has been validated as safe anywhere in the world by any independent experts?
Are you aware that Prof Joseph Ikpere who headed the team that recommended biotech-based agric and Mrs. Helene Esuene who received the recommendation and provided for government for implementation did NOT INVESTIGATE the safety of its products, GM foods?
Are you aware that NO Nigerian university has evidence of any independent safety study of any GM food which showed that it is safe published in any journal?
Are you aware that NAFDAC, IITA, Ibadan, RCRI Imudike, Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, etc, have NO safety study of any GM food that has been repeated and validated by any independent group of experts as safe?
Let any of these produce evidence contrary to my assertion in order to nullify it and establish their research as best professional practice, their honesty, interest in providing food security and keeping Nigerians alive, the greatest national interests.
May I add that I wrote your predecessor, Dr. A. Adesina, a lot about this matter—and attached lot of evidence and beg you to look into his files for confirmation.
I am willing to defend all that I have written about biotech-based agric, GM foods, herbicides and pesticides anywhere, to be questioned by the most knowledgeable on this matter who supports, promotes, and recommends views and evidences opposite to mine, and to provide facts about present tomato and corn diseases.
Sir, I look forward to your invitation. Send it to PrinceAwele@gmail.com or, as honour of direct contact with me, to 08103038549.
Thank you sir while I look forward to reading or hearing from you as best ministerial practice, honour to me, and as the promotion of the most vital national interest.
Good day.
Prince Awele Odor
Dear Sir, Dr. Audu Ogbeh,
Friends have referred me to publication of your statements about biotech-based agric and GM foods before I was referred to this publication. I wish to take advantage of the reference to this publication to share FUNDAMENTAL facts with you about these.
ALL the safety studies so far carried out on genetically modified foods (raw and processed, e,g, boiled) and genetically modified food ingredients—–beginning with the GM tomato produced by Calgene Incor. USA, and called Flavr savr (1992-1998), including the GM potato provided by Scottish ministry of agric. and studied for safety by by Prof A. Pusztai, peer reviewed by Prof. SWB Ewen (1998), and including the the GM corn repeat safety study by Giles-Eric Seralini et al, 2012 and re-validated in 2014 —–showed VERY CLEARLY that they are POISONOUS to stomach and intestinal mucosa, kidney, liver and heart.
Are you aware, or not aware, of this TRUTH?
The last reference provides the greatest evidence picture.
Are you aware that NO safety study of any GM food has been validated as safe anywhere in the world by any independent experts?
Are you aware that Prof Joseph Ikpere who headed the team that recommended biotech-based agric and Mrs. Helene Esuene who received the recommendation and provided for government for implementation did NOT INVESTIGATE the safety of its products, GM foods?
Are you aware that NO Nigerian university has evidence of any independent safety study of any GM food which showed that it is safe published in any journal?
Are you aware that NAFDAC, IITA, Ibadan, RCRI Imudike, Monsanto, DuPont, Syngenta, etc, have NO safety study of any GM food that has been repeated and validated by any independent group of experts as safe?
Let any of these produce evidence contrary to my assertion in order to nullify it and establish their research as best professional practice, their honesty, interest in providing food security and keeping Nigerians alive, the greatest national interests.
May I add that I wrote your predecessor, Dr. A. Adesina, a lot about this matter—and attached lot of evidence and beg you to look into his files for confirmation.
I am willing to defend all that I have written about biotech-based agric, GM foods, herbicides and pesticides anywhere, to be questioned by the most knowledgeable on this matter who supports, promotes, and recommends views and evidences opposite to mine, and to provide facts about present tomato and corn diseases.
Sir, I look forward to your invitation. Send it to PrinceAwele@gmail.com or, as honour of direct contact with me, to 08103038549.
Thank you sir while I look forward to reading or hearing from you as best ministerial practice, honour to me, and as the promotion of the most vital national interest.
Good day.
Prince Awele Odor
We will review and take appropriate action.