This qualitative research paper (purchase required, GBP £13) explores one significant incident of food fraud in Nigeria. It deals with the vulnerabilities that led to the fraud, the regulatory response, and the economic and trade consequences. The author draws upon secondary data, policy reports and documented enforcement actions.
The incident involved 82 tonnes of seeds, intercepted in Kano State’s Dawanau grain market, which had been adulterated with dust, mould and inferior grains. They were destined for both domestic and export markets.
The regulatory response, led by the Federal Produce Inspection Service (FPIS) and the Kano State Consumer Protection Council (KSCPC), involved product seizure, market surveillance and initiation of legal proceedings. The author discusses how this example highlights both the capacity for rapid intervention and the limitations of fragmented enforcement systems.
The paper discusses the importance of proactive surveillance, regulatory coordination and investment in infrastructure and traceability to combat food fraud in developing economies. It serves as a practical teaching tool on real-life regulatory responses and offers recommendations applicable across sub-Saharan Africa.
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