The National Agency for Food and Drug
Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has warned
that consumption of imported frozen poultry
products may lead to cancer, kidney diseases and
hypertension. Unfortunately, the warning has not
deterred many Nigerians from consuming them.
According to a former NAFDAC Director-General,
Dr Paul Orhii, the risk in the products comes as a
result of substances that can predispose one to
kidney, liver and lung diseases as well as certain
types of cancer and drug resistant bacterial
infections among others. Medical experts
believe that consumption of the products can be a
silent-killer because they may not show symptoms
before attacking.
Apart from the health implications of the products,
the importation also impedes local poultry
production as farmers have to contend with low
market demand. Findings have shown that about
50 million Nigerians eat imported chicken, turkey
and fishes almost on a daily basis.
According to a veterinary expert, Dr. Tito Adebanjo,
the use of formalin, a chemical used to embalm
corpses and other dangerous substances, to
preserve the poultry products, is a cancer-causing
chemical also capable of causing liver and kidney
diseases.
“There is little or no mechanisms at our sea ports
to screen or detect the residues of chemicals used
in the frozen meat being imported to Nigeria, yet
the foods find their way to our markets for
consumption. Even the ones produced locally, no
one really tests them, let alone find out the level of
drug residues in them before they are sold to
unsuspecting members of the public,” Adebanjo
explained
He stated that the chemicals can be divided into
two segments: Those added to animals’ feeds or
injected into them and the preservatives used on
the animals’ meat after they are slaughtered.
“Some of these chemicals can predispose one to
cancer, hypertension or cause antibiotic resistance
in man. The relentless drive to produce more
animals by some farmers – abroad or locally – in
less time at lower cost, is responsible for the
routine and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial
drugs in animal, including arsenicals, antibiotics,
and other compounds,” the veterinary doctor, who
specialises in food hygiene, food safety and
zoonoses, added.
“The concern, therefore, besides the effects on the
livestock industry, is the fact that many analogues
of these antibiotics are used in disease
management in humans and could consequently
add to the development of cross-resistance to
antimicrobials administered in human health.
“Though the fact that the public may not be aware
of the magnitude of the health hazards resulting
from consuming meat containing drug residue, that
does not imply the adverse effects should not be of
serious concern. What often happens is that the
chemicals used in the preservation of these foods
build up and serve as free agents in the body.
Besides, they subsequently break the body down
through one disease or another.
“Many a time, drug withdrawal periods are not
observed or there is over-dosage or under-dosage
of these chemicals when used by quacks. The
drugs, therefore, accumulate in the meat obtained
from such animals. Possible bioaccumulation
occurs when these residues present in the animal
tissues accumulate continuously over the lifespan
of the individuals through prolonged consumption.
This is of potential concern in Nigeria where
animals’ meat constitutes a major source of animal
protein.”
Similarly, the President, Poultry Association of
Nigeria, Dr. Ayoola Oduntan, who urged the Federal
Government to curb the menace, noted that
smuggled chicken is responsible for several health
issues experienced in the country, “due to the
presence of high level of bacteria in the chicken
coupled with high toxic chemicals that are used to
preserve it just to ensure it gets to our market at
cheaper rates.”
Also, an investment analyst, Mr. John Ayodele
explained that the fact that the foods are smuggled
and massively consumed indicates that there is a
wide gap in the local market that needs to be
bridged.
According to him, that gap is not as a result of the
inefficiency of poultry owners but due to lack of
patronage on the part of consumers. “Operators
have invested in slaughtering and de-feathering
machinery, packaging and storage facilities as well
as marketing strategies to convince Nigerians to
patronise their safer and more nutritious products.
“This is a viable money making idea for Nigerians,
especially the ones in Diaspora seeking viable
businesses to set up in Nigeria. Home based
Nigerians looking for what to do in retirement can
also consider this business. The unemployed
Nigerian graduate, who can put on his thinking
cap, can also set up in this business, starting
small,” he said.
Ayodele added that Nigeria has no business
importing frozen poultry, which can easily be
produced at home to provide employment and
create wealth for her citizens. “If patronized,
operators can reduce the unemployment rate by
over two million in one month and that will just be
the beginning in Nigeria,” he added.
Also, an economist, Dr. Olusola Owoeye, explained
that Nigerian consumption is put at 1.5million
tonnes, while production is estimated to be about
350,000mt tones, leaving a demand and supply
gap of 1.2million tones, which is met through
smuggling. He stated that to fully utilise the
balance of the industry’s installed capacity of
additional 350,000mt will translate to significant
benefits through more job creation in form of
350,000 new jobs in maize production, 75,000 new
jobs in processing and 500,000 new jobs in
ancillary raw materials, products and services.
“Reducing smuggling by just 30 percent would
result in the creation of about one million jobs. The
future of the Nigerian poultry industry hinges
delicately on firm decisions on the part of the
policy makers to reverse the current unwholesome
trends that tend to tilt the balance more in favour
of smugglers while putting the local producers in
jeopardy. The investments of local producers need
urgent safeguard and support that would enable
them to remain competitive in the face of
smugglers onslaught,” he stated.
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