The Nigerian Senate is once again commended by the Citizens Free Service Forum (CFSF) for realizing its obligations and halting the harmful tendency of using calcium carbide and other chemicals to artificially ripen produce.
The Nigerian Senate has voted to amend the current legislation to make it more deterrent to people who use the toxic powder to ripen fresh fruits.
Concerned citizens, governments, health authorities, and other stakeholders have issued numerous warnings about the health risks and implications of such practices.
According to a release emailed to this site by Aminu M. Shehu, the Nigerian Senate’s decision to outlaw and criminalise such acts is timely, welcomed, and appreciated by Comrade Sani Baba, Executive Director of the Citizens Free Service Forum.
According to Comrade Baba, “The practice of using calcium carbide and other chemicals to fast track the ripening of fruits, is, to say the least, preposterous, evil, inhuman and a calculated attempt to degrade human health and lives”
According to medical study dating back to 1914, human direct or indirect consumption of calcium carbide can cause renal disease, dizziness, mouth and nose irritation, bodily weakness, lasting skin damage, malignancies, difficulties swallowing, liver damage, and other side effects.
The CFSF Executive Director also urged the Nigerian Senate to move quickly to ensure that the proposal, which is currently before the Senate Committee on Health and Agriculture, becomes legislation without delay.
“As we procrastinate, lives are lost, health jeopardized and productive citizens ravaged beyond repairs and funds to be used on positive engagements are daily been used on avoidable health enterprise caused by the reckless use and consumption of toxic chemicals. This, the nation cannot continue to afford any longer”. Comrade Baba added.
He then urged other relevant federal agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration, NAFDAC, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and other relevant agencies in the 36 states of the Federation and the FCT-Abuja, to collaborate with concerned citizens and civil society organizations (CSOs) in the fight against this public health threat and onslaught.
As a result, the CFSF will continue to keep an eye on developments in the Senate and elsewhere until the right thing is done to put an end to this heinous practice, according to Executive Director Comrade Sani.
The Executive Director then urged the general public to do the following before consuming any fruits in order to avoid eating fruits laced with calcium carbide.
* Wash fruits well to remove chemicals.
* Eat fruits that are in season and organically ripened.
* Choose fruits with a clear origin or source.
* Consume only fresh fruits.