Former Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo has raised concerns over the use of chemicals to ripen and preserve fruits and vegetables in Nigeria after laboratory tests reportedly found that freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, was not fit for human consumption.
Osinbajo shared the experience on August 28, 2026, during the Open Day for Gardeners seminar themed “Leaving the Earth Better Than We Found It” at the Ecobank Pan African Centre in Victoria Island, Lagos.
Osinbajo Recounts Wife’s Health Experience
Osinbajo said Dolapo had stopped drinking carbonated drinks and instead preferred a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice every day as what she considered a healthier option.
He said she later began experiencing frequent headaches, prompting the couple to review her diet and investigate possible causes.
After other possibilities were ruled out, Dolapo reportedly sent a batch of the orange juice for laboratory testing.
“The results came back. It showed the orange juice, freshly squeezed, was not fit for human consumption,” Osinbajo said, adding humorously: “She should have just stayed with Coke, right?”
Concern Over Chemicals Used On Produce
Osinbajo attributed the problem to potentially harmful practices in the production, ripening and preservation of fruits and vegetables.
He said farmers use pesticides on produce, while some sellers apply chemicals to speed up ripening or extend shelf life.
He specifically mentioned calcium carbide, which is used to force fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaws and tomatoes to ripen or change colour more quickly.
Osinbajo described the practice as widespread and compared it to “an epidemic.”
Studies Highlight Chemical Use
The former vice-president cited studies from different parts of Nigeria to support his concerns.
According to him, a 2024 survey involving 20 fruit sellers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, found that half of those interviewed admitted using calcium carbide. He also cited a study in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, which found that 25 per cent of fruit sellers used the chemical.
Osinbajo further referred to a 2023 survey of 50 fruit retailers in Lagos, saying 22 admitted to using chemicals to preserve produce. He noted that the figure represented only those who acknowledged the practice.
Calls For Stronger Food Safety Measures
Osinbajo called for stronger regulatory enforcement, greater public awareness and the adoption of safer methods for ripening and preserving agricultural produce.
He also urged consumers to be more conscious of how their food is produced and handled, including asking questions about the processes used before produce reaches the market.
The remarks were part of a broader address on environmental stewardship, which also covered commercial seeds, deforestation and tree planting initiatives in Nigeria and other African countries.
