A University of Lagos professor has warned that the use of chemical insecticides to preserve food in Nigeria is contributing to serious health problems and reducing life expectancy.
Professor Wahab Okunowo, of the Department of Biochemistry, made the remarks while delivering the university’s 23rd inaugural lecture of the 2024/2025 academic session.
He said many consumers unknowingly purchase staples such as beans and maise contaminated with harmful preservatives. “These insecticides pose debilitating ailments such as cancers, physiological disorders and reproductive harm,” he said.
Okunowo argued that Nigeria’s reliance on toxic compounds to protect stored grains, alongside practices such as ripening fruits with carbide, was undermining public health. He said his research team had developed natural, biodegradable preservation methods that are safer for humans and the environment.
He called for collaboration among government, universities, and industry to promote biotechnological solutions, fund research, and raise awareness about the dangers of chemical preservatives.
The University of Lagos vice-chancellor, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, praised Okunowo’s work, describing it as an example of science addressing urgent social challenges.
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