MEZIESBLOG

1.1 Background to the Study

Food safety is a fundamental component of public health, food security, and sustainable development. Concerns about food contamination across the world have intensified due to increased chemical use in agriculture, as well as the expanding food supply chains, climate variability, and population growth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO, 2022a), unsafe food contributes to over 600 million cases of foodborne diseases annually that disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries where regulatory systems and public awareness remain weak. In this context, pesticide use in food production has emerged as a major food safety challenge (WHO, 2022b), particularly in developing economies like Nigeria.

Nigeria’s agricultural sector remains a cornerstone of the national economy. The sector accounts for approximately 24% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and has employed more than 60% of the rural population, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), noted in 2023. Agriculture plays a vital role in food provision, poverty reduction, and rural development (WHO, 2022a). To meet the food demands of a rapidly growing population estimated to exceed 227 million by 2025, farmers increasingly rely on agrochemicals, particularly pesticides, to enhance productivity, control pests, and minimise post-harvest losses (FAO, 2023).

Pesticides include a wide range of chemical substances such as insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and rodenticides designed to prevent, destroy, or control harmful organisms (PAN Nigeria, 2022). While these substances contribute significantly to agricultural efficiency, their inappropriate application poses serious risks to food safety, environmental integrity, and human health. In Nigeria, pesticide misuse is a widespread problem often linked to poor farmer education, limited extension services, inadequate regulatory enforcement, and the circulation of banned or counterfeit products (Adeyeye et al., 2021).

One of the most critical concerns arising from pesticide use is the presence of chemical residues in food. Pesticide residues may persist on agricultural produce such as vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, and tubers long after application, especially when pre-harvest intervals are not observed. Studies conducted in Nigeria found that pesticide residues exceeding Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs) set by international bodies such as the Codex Alimentarius Commission, thus, raising significant public health concerns (Akinneye et al., 2021; Sosan et al., 2023). Chronic exposure to pesticide residues through food consumption has been associated with adverse health outcomes that include neurological disorders, endocrine disruption, reproductive problems, and increased cancer risks (UNEP, 2022).

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defined food safety as the assurance that food will not cause harm to consumers when prepared and consumed according to its intended use (FAO, 2022a). This assurance depends on effective regulation, monitoring, and public awareness across the entire food value chain (that is, from production and processing to distribution and consumption). In Nigeria, food safety governance is fragmented across multiple agencies, including the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). Despite these institutional arrangements, enforcement remains weak due to inadequate funding, overlapping mandates, and limited laboratory capacity for residue testing (NAFDAC, 2023).

The informal nature of food markets further compounds food safety challenges in Nigeria. A large proportion of food consumed by Nigerians is purchased from open markets, roadside vendors, and small-scale retailer shops where food safety oversight is minimal. Moreover, consumers often lack access to reliable information regarding how food is produced, what chemicals are used, and whether safety standards are followed. As a result, food safety concerns, particularly those related to pesticide contamination, have become a growing source of public anxiety.

Public perception is a critical yet underexplored dimension of food safety in Nigeria. Public perception refers to how individuals and communities interpret, understand, and respond to risks based on their knowledge, beliefs, experiences, and socio-cultural contexts. Unlike scientific risk assessments, public perceptions are shaped by media reports, word-of-mouth, trust in institutions, cultural norms, and personal encounters with illness or food poisoning (Slovic, 2021). In Nigeria, media reports on pesticide poisoning, accidental deaths, and the alleged use of banned agrochemicals have heightened public concern about the safety of locally produced food.

Despite these concerns, consumer behaviour often reflects a complex interplay between risk awareness and practical constraints. Many Nigerian consumers always purchase foods perceived as unsafe due to factors such as affordability, availability, taste preferences, and limited alternatives. Furthermore, research indicates that even when consumers express concern about pesticide residues, this concern does not always translate into safer purchasing decisions, particularly in low-income settings (Okoye et al, 2022). This gap between perception and behaviour underscores the need for a deeper understanding of how Nigerians perceive food safety risks associated with pesticide use.

Understanding public perception is therefore essential for several reasons. First, perception influences consumer trust in food systems and regulatory institutions. Low trust can undermine compliance with food safety guidelines and reduce the effectiveness of public health interventions. Second, perception shapes demand for safer food, such as organic or pesticide-free produce, which can drive changes in agricultural practices. Third, public perception affects how food safety messages are received, interpreted, and acted upon, thereby making it a critical component of risk communication strategies (FAO & WHO, 2023).

In Nigeria, limited empirical research has focused on consumers’ perceptions of pesticide use and its implications for food safety. Yet existing studies tend to concentrate on residue analysis, farmer practices, or regulatory challenges, with less attention given to how consumers understand and respond to pesticide-related risks. Where perception studies exist, they are often geographically limited or methodologically narrow, leaving significant knowledge gaps at the national level (Olatunji et al, 2021; Bello et al, 2024a). This study addresses this gap by examining public perception of food safety in relation to pesticide use in Nigeria. It adopts an agricultural and interdisciplinary perspective, integrating insights from food safety science, risk perception theory, and sustainable agriculture. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the study explores not only what Nigerians think about pesticide use in food production, but also why they hold these views and how such perceptions influence food choices and trust in the food system.

The significance of this research extends beyond academic inquiry. Findings from this study have practical implications for policymakers, regulatory agencies, agricultural extension services, and public health practitioners. Further, improved understanding of public perception can inform the design of more effective food safety policies, targeted awareness campaigns, and farmer training programmes that promote safer pesticide use. In addition, the study contributes to broader discussions on sustainable agriculture and food system resilience in Nigeria, thus, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) (United Nations, 2023).

In summary, food safety concerns related to pesticide use represent a critical challenge in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. While pesticides play an important role in enhancing food production, their misuse poses significant risks to public health and consumer confidence. Public perception is a key factor that shapes responses to these risks, yet it remains insufficiently understood. This study therefore seeks to provide empirical evidence on how Nigerians perceive food safety in relation to pesticide use and to explore the implications of these perceptions for agricultural sustainability, consumer behaviour, and public health outcomes.