By Gami Tadanyigbe
The Nigeria Food Vendors Bio-Data Collation Agency, has held a Re-training and forensic verification exercise for its officers to help address food poisoning and mishandling cases in the Nigeria.
Amb. Dr. Nicholas Karimu, Director General of the agency, at the end of the training in Abuja, said the knowledge acquired from the exercise would go a long way to address bad level of food safety and hygiene practices.
Karimu said the Agency was dedicated to all food vendors Bio-Data and identification number for easy traceability system of any food poisoning and mishandling cases in the country.
According to him, the National Assembly has considered the report of the Committee on Healthcare Services to fully establish the agency which is at its third reading at the Green Chamber.
“The importance of this exercise cannot be overemphasised as part of our transformation stages into the agency for hygienic food consumption in the country.
“This training exercise has exposed the officers to new knowledge that would enable them carry out successful food vendors Bio-Data capturing.
“It will also assist health workers in adopting modern techniques of preservation so as to reduce food poisoning accross the nation.
“As your training ends today, I am confident that all relevant information, knowledge and skills needed to carry out this task have been delivered into your hands,” he said.
Karimu said since inception in 2014, the organisation has been aggressively promoting food hygiene standards practices all over the Nation with a specific mandate of ensuring good food for better health.
He maintained that, the importance of regular training and national screening exersice cannot be overemphasised as the agency is dedicated to food vendors Bio-Data capturing to apply the best hygiene and safe food handling standard practices in Nigeria.
“Our commitment to promoting health by setting food hygiene standard practices in Nigeria is making progress as National Board of Trustee recently presented another bill to establish the agency.
“As we await the third reading, we humbly call on all the House of Representative Members to critically look at the various benefits such as job creation, youth empowerment and safe food for the entire populace,” he said.
The DG, however called on food related sister agencies to put selfish and personal interest aside and support the bill as the country at large will fully benefit from its overall impact.
He added that the bill if finally passed will enable the country have an Agency fully responsible for regulating, training and capturing of all food vendors to help address food poisoning and mishandling cases. (NAN)