Systemic neglect in food safety leaves Nigerians exposed to preventable diseases and deaths

Across the nation, millions of Nigerians eat food purchased from roadside vendors daily - under umbrellas, beside drainages, or at busy junctions. For many, these meals are affordable and accessible, but behind this convenience lies a silent public health crisis. Evidence gathered from street interviews and field observations in several Nigerian cities reveal a common street practice: widespread disregard for food hygiene, minimal oversight, and little or no government regulation, thus exposing the people to the consumption of dangerously unhea