Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that laboratory tests conducted on his wife Dolapo’s freshly squeezed orange juice found it unfit for human consumption, raising concerns over the use of hazardous chemicals in Nigeria’s food supply chain.
Osinbajo made the disclosure while speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28. A video of the event was later shared on his YouTube channel and gained widespread attention.
According to Osinbajo, his wife had stopped consuming carbonated drinks several years ago and switched to freshly squeezed orange juice as a healthier alternative. However, she began experiencing unexplained headaches despite maintaining the habit.
He said the family eventually sent a batch of the juice for laboratory testing after ruling out other possible causes.
The test results, he said, showed that the freshly squeezed orange juice was “not fit for human consumption.”
Osinbajo said the incident highlighted a broader concern over the use of dangerous substances by some farmers and fruit sellers to accelerate ripening, preserve produce and improve its appearance.
He specifically mentioned calcium carbide, which is reportedly used to force fruits such as bananas, mangoes and tomatoes to ripen quickly.
Citing studies, the former vice president said one 2024 survey found that half of 20 fruit sellers interviewed admitted using calcium carbide, while another study recorded usage among 25 per cent of sellers surveyed.
He also referenced a 2023 Lagos survey involving 50 fruit and vegetable retailers, in which 22 respondents admitted using chemicals to preserve their produce.
Osinbajo said some of the substances reportedly used included calcium carbide, gamma-lin-20, Sniper and phosphite, describing some of them as highly toxic.
He warned consumers not to assume that attractive-looking fruits or naturally produced drinks are automatically safe.
“The fact that fruit looks fresh doesn’t mean that it is safe, and the fact that a drink is natural doesn’t mean that something dangerous has not been added to it along the way,” he said.
Osinbajo called for stronger regulation and enforcement, as well as greater public awareness and education for farmers and traders on safer alternatives.
He also urged consumers to be more vigilant, question sellers about how food is handled, carefully inspect produce and report suspicious practices.
His comments come amid growing concerns over counterfeit and substandard food, drugs, cosmetics and other consumer products in Nigerian markets.
Recent social media campaigns have drawn attention to suspected fake products, including Oral-B toothpaste, as well as allegations involving dyed palm oil, artificially coloured apples, counterfeit soy sauce, olive oil and yoghurt.
Meanwhile, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had yet to respond to requests for comment on the allegations at the time of publication.
