A bill seeking to prohibit the use of harmful chemicals substance for the ripening of fruits suffered setback in the Nigerian Senate on Tuesday.
The bill titled, “A Bill for an act to prohibit the use of harmful chemicals for the ripening of fruits and to provide for the regulation of fruits ripening practices in Nigeria and for related matters, 2025 (SB. 02)”, which failed to scale through the second reading was sponsored by Senator Ani Anthony Okorie.
In his lead debate, Senator Okorie noted that the purpose of the bill is to safeguard the health of Nigerians and protect the integrity of our agricultural value chain.
The lawmaker said for the past two decades, the practise of chemical ripening of fruits has become rampant in Nigerian markets.
“Farmers and traders eager to make profits have ripened fruits or hastened their maturity using chemical substances, most notably calcium carbide, a compound primarily used in industrial welding, not food production.
“Mr. President, when calcium carbide comes into contact with moisture, it releases acetylene gas, which mimics the effect of natural ethylene used in legitimate food ripening.
“However, acetylene contains acetic and phosphorus hydrides, both of which are highly toxic and carcinogenic.
“Dear colleagues, this illegal and harmful practise is widespread across many states and poses severe public health risks to millions of unsuspecting consumers.
“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the medical data associated with the consumption of fruits ripened with calcium carbide are well documented. They include gastrointestinal irritation and stomach ulcers, damage to the kidneys and liver, neurological disorders and headaches, respiratory disease distress, reproductive health complications, (4:38) and in prolonged exposure, cancer and other chronic diseases may arise”.
He added that children, pregnant women, and the elderly are particularly at risk, saying “Yet, in markets nationwide, fruits treated with these chemicals are sold daily. Bananas, mangoes, oranges, tomatoes, purple, the list is endless”.
According to him, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, (SON), have repeatedly warned against the use of calcium carbide, declaring it unfit for food use.
He lamented that enforcement has been weak due to the absence of a clear statutory framework specifically criminalising these acts and providing a coordinated mechanism for monitoring and control.
The Senator explained that the objectives of the bill is to prohibit the importation, sale, and use of calcium carbide and similar chemicals for fruit ripening.
Also to empower NAFDAC to enforce strict penalties against offenders and to satisfy approved natural ripening agents. Mandate the Ministry of Agriculture to promote safe, natural, and cost-effective ripening methods, such as full-grade ethylene gas and modern ripening chambers.
Establish a framework for the inspection, certification, and licencing of fruit ripening facilities in Nigeria and to promote public education and awareness to sensitise farmers, traders, and consumers alike about the dangers of chemically ripened fruits.
However, the Deputy Senate President, Barau I. Jubril, while commending Senator Okorie, noted that the bill was first brought before the Senate as a motion and was well debated and referred to the Committee on Health.
Senator Barau argued that bringing back the same issue as a bill was not the right thing to do. “So, bringing forward a bill to deal with this matter is quite improper. I don’t think this bill is desirable at this moment because our laws are supposed to cover how to deal with this matter.”
Senator Ipalibo Banigo shared the Deputy Senate President submission, saying, “I rise to support what His Excellency the Deputy Senate President has said. First of all, let me commend my brother, Senator Professor Ali, for his passion on solving this problem of chemical carbides poisoning of our vegetables and our fruits.
“This is a very, very important issue for our health practise. And we are very, very intended on seeing that the right things are done for our people’s health.
“But I wish to also point out that we do have regulatory agencies with the necessary acts that enables them to regulate this practise and ensure that our peoples are not under such harmful practises.
“In fact, we had, at the first motion that was done, we had a joint hearing. We had a public hearing of the Joint Committee of the Health Committee and Agricultural Products and Rural Development. And at that hearing we recommended that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as well as the Nigerian Quarantine Services and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and the National Council of Foods, Science and Technology should make sure that they create enough awareness and build enough capacity to see that this type of practise is stopped”.
She said Nigeria has established severally agencies that have the power to stop the ripening of fruits with chemicals, emphasizing that the only thing required at the moment is to get them to wake up to their responsibilities.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, then asked Senator Okorie if he wish step down his bill.
According to him, stepping down the bill will avail the Senate the chance to conclude with the Ad hoc committee report on the same issue.
“I just want to give you the cue from the voices of the Senators. You can decide to move a motion to withdraw the bill for now. So I will just conclude with the ad hoc, or to conclude with the report of the motion on the same issue, which I will direct the Clerk of the Senate.
Akpabio also directed that the motion on the same issue should be listed for discussion tomorrow.
“Mr. President, colleagues, given the mood of the Senate on this proposed bill, I request that it should be stepped down,” Senator Okorie moved.