Osinbajo raises alarm over chemicals in fruits, recalls wife’s orange juice experience

Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has raised concerns over the alleged use of dangerous chemicals in fruits and vegetables, warning Nigerians about potential food safety risks associated with the production, ripening and preservation of fresh produce.

Osinbajo also recounted a personal experience involving his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, saying she developed frequent headaches after she began drinking freshly squeezed orange juice every day, before a laboratory test reportedly found the juice “not fit for human consumption.”

He spoke at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar in Lagos, held under the theme, “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It.”

Osinbajo said his wife had developed the habit of drinking a full glass of freshly squeezed orange juice daily after she stopped consuming carbonated drinks.

According to him, she later began experiencing unusual and frequent headaches, prompting her to examine the food and drinks she was consuming to determine the possible cause.

He said the family initially ruled out the orange juice because it was considered a healthy drink.

“We assumed, of course, it couldn’t be the ‘healthy’ orange juice,” Osinbajo said.

He said the juice was subsequently subjected to laboratory testing, with the result allegedly showing that the freshly squeezed drink was “not fit for human consumption.”

Osinbajo said the experience raised questions about the chemicals that may be introduced into fruits and vegetables before they reach consumers.

“Apparently farmers use dangerous pesticides for fruits and vegetables, and fruit and vegetable sellers use very dangerous chemicals sometimes to ripen or preserve fruits and vegetables,” he said.

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The former Vice-President specifically raised concerns about calcium carbide, which he said is sometimes used to accelerate the ripening or change the colour of fruits.

“Calcium carbide is used very frequently to force fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes to change colour and look ripe very quickly,” he added.

To support his concerns, Osinbajo referenced studies from different parts of Nigeria which he said documented the use of chemicals among some fruit sellers.

He cited a 2024 study in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, saying that half of 20 fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide. He also referred to another study in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, where he said 25 per cent of fruit sellers reportedly admitted using the chemical to ripen fruits.

Osinbajo further cited a 2023 survey in Lagos, saying 22 out of 50 fruit retailers interviewed admitted using chemicals to preserve their produce.

“These were the ones who agreed they do,” he said.

The former Vice-President said the issue should be viewed beyond individual consumers, arguing that the safety of food requires attention throughout the agricultural and food supply chain.

From farming and harvesting to transportation, storage, ripening and retailing, produce passes through several stages before reaching consumers. Improper use of agricultural chemicals at any stage can create food safety concerns, particularly where products are not used according to approved guidelines.

Osinbajo’s remarks have consequently renewed attention on food safety in Nigeria, particularly the need for stronger monitoring of agricultural chemicals and practices used by farmers and food vendors.

The concerns are also relevant to the work of regulatory agencies responsible for protecting consumers and enforcing standards, including NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria.

However, the specific laboratory report referenced by Osinbajo has not been independently published alongside the reports of his remarks. There is also no independent medical evidence establishing that the orange juice caused his wife’s headaches.

The former Vice-President’s account should therefore be understood as a personal experience and warning about food safety, rather than as independent proof that chemically treated oranges caused the reported symptoms.

Osinbajo’s intervention also forms part of a wider discussion about sustainable agriculture and environmental responsibility. His presentation at the gardeners’ seminar touched on issues including food safety, the future of seeds and the protection of trees and forests.

He urged greater attention to how food is produced and handled, stressing that the appearance of freshness does not necessarily guarantee that a food product is safe for consumption.

The issue places renewed responsibility on farmers, food sellers, consumers and regulatory authorities to promote compliance with food safety standards and discourage unsafe practices.

For consumers, experts generally advise washing fresh produce thoroughly and purchasing fruits and vegetables from reliable sources, while farmers and vendors are expected to follow approved guidelines for the use of agricultural chemicals.

Osinbajo’s warning has added his voice to calls for stronger oversight of Nigeria’s food supply chain and greater public awareness of practices that could compromise the safety of food reaching Nigerian households.

Osinbajo raises alarm over chemicals in fruits, recalls wife’s orange juice experience

Lagos: Army rescues two kidnapped farm workers, kills suspected kidnapper

Troops of the Nigerian Army’s 65 Battalion, working alongside the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, have rescued two kidnap victims during a joint security operation in Igbonla, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The operation followed the abduction of Kelvin Okafor and Alex Anato, who were reportedly kidnapped while working on a farm in the community on Friday, September 4, 2026.

The security operation was launched after troops received credible intelligence on the abduction and the suspected location where the victims were being held.

Acting on the information, troops of the 65 Battalion, supported by police operatives and local vigilantes, mobilised to the area and advanced towards the kidnappers’ hideout.

The suspects reportedly abandoned the two victims and fled into the surrounding forest after sighting the advancing security personnel.

The troops and other security operatives immediately gave chase, leading to an encounter with the fleeing suspects.

During the pursuit, one of the suspected kidnappers was neutralised, while two others reportedly escaped deeper into the forest.

The two rescued victims were said to be unhurt and were subsequently handed over to the police for medical assessment, debriefing and further necessary action.

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The remains of the neutralised suspect were also handed over to the police for appropriate procedures and further investigation.

The operation highlights the importance of intelligence sharing and cooperation between security agencies and local stakeholders in tackling kidnapping, particularly in rural and forested communities.

The Nigerian Army said it remains committed to protecting lives and property, adding that troops would continue to collaborate with other security agencies and local stakeholders to sustain intelligence-led operations against criminal elements.

The Army said such operations are aimed at denying criminal groups freedom of action, disrupting their networks and improving the safety and security of communities across the country.

Security personnel are expected to intensify efforts to locate the suspects who escaped during the operation and determine whether they are connected to other kidnapping incidents in the area.

The latest operation also underscores ongoing security concerns around isolated farming communities and forested areas, where criminal groups can exploit difficult terrain to carry out abductions and evade security personnel.

Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and provide security agencies with timely and credible information about suspicious activities that could assist ongoing efforts to combat kidnapping and other criminal activities.

Lagos: Army rescues two kidnapped farm workers, kills suspected kidnapper

Delta Police Arrest Minor, Five Others Over Alleged Illicit Drug Sales

Operatives of the Delta State Police Command have arrested six suspected drug dealers, including a 15-year-old female minor, during a raid on a store allegedly being used for the sale and distribution of illicit drugs in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.

The suspects were arrested by operatives of the Department of Operations during a routine patrol along Alegwe Street, off Owa Road, Agbor, following information received by the police about suspected drug-related activities in the area.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed the arrests in a statement, saying the operation formed part of the ongoing crackdown on the sale and distribution of illicit drugs across Delta State.

According to Edafe, the operatives were acting on what the police described as credible intelligence when they raided a store suspected to be used as an outlet for the distribution of prohibited substances.

Those arrested were identified as Anabel Haruna, 18; Terhemen Faith, 19; Kaityo Abigail, 23; Iorkee Eunice, 26; and Osomuri Emmanuel, 31, alongside a 15-year-old female juvenile whose identity was withheld because she is a minor.

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During the operation, the police said a search of a vehicle linked to the suspects resulted in the recovery of Tramadol, Rohypnol and other substances suspected to be illicit drugs.

The recovered substances have been taken into police custody as exhibits, while the six suspects remain in custody as investigators work to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged activities.

The police said the investigation is also aimed at identifying and arresting other persons who may be connected to the suspected drug distribution network.

Edafe said the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations and the completion of the necessary legal processes.

The operation comes as the Delta State Police Command intensifies efforts to tackle the distribution and abuse of illicit drugs, which authorities have linked to other forms of criminality and social disorder.

The Commissioner of Police in Delta State, CP Samuel E. Erale, has directed officers and personnel across the command to strengthen intelligence gathering and enforcement operations against individuals and groups suspected of dealing in illicit drugs.

Erale warned that the command would continue to target suspected drug trafficking and distribution networks operating in the state and would not allow Delta communities to become safe havens for criminal activities.

The Commissioner also called for sustained cooperation between residents and security agencies, urging members of the public to provide credible information that could assist the police in identifying suspected criminal activities in their communities.

The latest arrests highlight the continued concern over the circulation of controlled substances, particularly as law enforcement agencies across Nigeria intensify operations against the illicit drug trade.

The police said the investigation into the Agbor operation remains ongoing, with further arrests possible as investigators trace the source of the recovered substances and determine whether other individuals were involved.

Delta Police Arrest Minor, Five Others Over Alleged Illicit Drug Sales