The National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Wednesday advised Nigerians against consumption of imported poultry products.
The advice was contained in a statement signed by the agency’s Director in Lagos State, Waheed Ishola.
“These products are not matured for consumption. A recent study showed that the products are often injected with special chemicals to boost their sizes.
“Sometimes too, they are sprayed with formaldehyde (formalin), a very dangerous chemical used to embalm dead bodies.
“In view of the high risk in the consumption of the products, the country has unfortunately been rated as having the highest rate of cancer and kidney diseases in Africa.
“This is revealed in a recent study which showed that Nigeria has the highest poultry consumer market in Africa because of our population,” he said.
He said the agency would embark on series of advocacy visit to traditional rulers, market leaders, Churches and Mosques to sensitise people on dangers of consuming such products.
Ishola said the agency would also organise town-hall meetings with community leaders, students and other groups to sensitise people on the issue.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.