Nigerian Customs Intercept Yam Porridge, Jollof-Rice And Egusi Soup Imported From India

Despite repeated warnings by health officials on the dangers posed by imported preserved ready-to-eat foods, Nigerian importers have continued to pay deaf ears to the warnings.The Tin-Can Island Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intercepted a 20ft container of “READY TO EAT FOODS’’ like Egusi Soup, Jollof Rice, Ogbono, Yam Porridge imported from India. The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Bashar Yusuf, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Lagos by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr Uche Ejesieme. 

Yusuf spoke with stakeholders at the SDV/SCOA Terminal while handing over the container of imported prepared foods to officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The controller described the scenario as an “aberration”, considering the fact that government granted zero duty for the importation of machinery for the packaging of agricultural products. 

“Why should indigenous menu be imported into the country at a time when investors are much sought after to boost local industries?’’ the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quotes Yusuf as saying. The controller told the officers to see training and re-training as a veritable tools that would sharpen their knowledge toward achieving desired results. He appreciated the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali, for effectively re-positioning the service in spite of global recession. 

Many People have continued to wonder why local delicacies like yam porridge, egusi and jollof-rice should be reported into the country. Some even went further to say that India does not grow yam or melon - so how did they manage to get the raw food materials used in making those delicacies? 

In answering that question, an exporter in Apapa who pleaded anonymity, told Nigeria Natural Health Online that it is the hand work of some dubious exporters in the country.

" They export the raw food stuff to Asian countries where they make them into ready-to-eat foods which are then imported back into the country to be sold at very exorbitant prices," he told our reporter.

These foods which are laced with preservatives, according to health officials, are not save for the body. Unfortunately, most elite who live in high bro areas in Nigerian cities, tend to patronize these imported foods, preferring them to the one cooked in local restaurants.

Preservatives are chemicals used to keep food fresh. Although there are a number of different types of food preservatives, antimicrobials, antioxidants, and products that slow the natural ripening process are some of the most common. Despite their important function, preservatives can pose a number of serious health risks.

Some of the health hazard associated with preservatives include: increased risk of cancer, hyperactivity in children and reduced heart health.