By Ghazali Ibrahim
Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has raised concerns over the use of chemicals to artificially ripen and preserve fruits in Nigeria, recounting how his wife, Dolapo, suffered frequent headaches after consuming freshly squeezed orange juice.
Osinbajo said laboratory analysis of the juice revealed that it was “not fit for human consumption.”
Speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos, themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” Osinbajo said the experience prompted concerns about the chemicals used in producing and preserving fruits.
He alleged that calcium carbide was being used to artificially ripen fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes, warning that such practices could pose risks to public health.
Osinbajo also referenced studies conducted in parts of the country, including Lagos, Uyo and Ado-Ekiti, where some fruit sellers reportedly admitted using chemicals to ripen or preserve produce.
He called for greater awareness and safer agricultural practices to protect Nigerians from potentially harmful substances in food.
