Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has sounded the alarm over the pervasive use of toxic chemicals by farmers and fruit vendors across Nigeria, revealing that a recent laboratory test declared freshly squeezed orange juice prepared for his wife, Dolapo, unfit for human consumption.
Osinbajo made the disclosure during the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving The Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28. Video footage from the event was recently made public via his official YouTube channel.
Recounting the incident, the former Vice President explained that his wife had long abandoned carbonated soft drinks in favor of daily, natural orange juice.
However, despite her healthy habits, she began suffering from persistent, unexplained headaches.
After ruling out other dietary factors, the family sent a batch of the daily freshly squeezed juice for laboratory analysis.
“The results came back and showed that the orange juice—freshly squeezed—was not fit for human consumption,” Osinbajo stated, describing the finding as a clear indication of a deeper systemic threat within the nation’s food supply chain.
Rampant use of toxic ripening agents
Osinbajo noted that the incident underscores a dangerous trend where agricultural producers and vendors routinely apply hazardous chemicals to artificially accelerate the ripening of fruits or improve their visual appearance before sale.
He highlighted the widespread use of calcium carbide—an industrial compound commonly used to force-ripen produce like bananas, mangoes, and tomatoes—alongside other lethal agrochemicals.
“The substances that are being used, aside from calcium carbide, include gamma-lin-20, which is straight poison, Sniper, and phosphite—a highly toxic fumigant,” Osinbajo warned, describing the situation as an emerging public health epidemic.
Citing research data to emphasize the magnitude of the problem, Osinbajo referenced:
A 2024 study in which half of the 20 fruit vendors surveyed admitted to using calcium carbide.
A broader study reflecting a 25 percent usage rate among surveyed fruit sellers.
A 2023 survey of 50 fruit and vegetable retailers in Lagos, where 22 vendors acknowledged using dangerous chemicals for preservation.
Calls for regulatory overhaul
Warning consumers against relying solely on appearance when buying fresh produce, Osinbajo stressed that visual appeal does not guarantee food safety.
“The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean it is safe, and the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean something dangerous has not been introduced along the journey from farm to table,” he said.
He urged regulatory authorities to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, while calling for comprehensive public awareness campaigns to educate farmers and traders on safe, chemical-free agricultural practices.
He also advised consumers to inspect produce critically and report suspicious vendor practices.
Osinbajo’s warning coincides with growing public anxiety over the proliferation of fake, adulterated, and counterfeit food products, pharmaceuticals, and household goods circulating in Nigerian markets.
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