Daniel Otera
The Federal Capital Territory Administration is rolling out a compulsory hepatitis screening programme for all food handlers in Abuja in a bid to tackle the spread of foodborne infections and boost consumer safety.
From market stalls and roadside bukas to upscale restaurants, bakeries, and school canteens, food vendors in Nigeria’s capital will soon be required to undergo regular screening for hepatitis B and C. The policy was unveiled on Wednesday as part of activities marking the 2025 World Hepatitis Day.
FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, in a message delivered on his behalf by Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary for Health Services and Environment, said the new initiative is critical to public health.
“Food handlers are not just service providers; they are essential public health stewards,” he said. “Hygiene cannot wait. Screening cannot wait. Action cannot wait. Together, let’s ensure the FCT leads by example.”
According to a statement from Mr Lere Olayinka, Wike’s Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication and Social Media, the screening campaign will form part of a broader public-private partnership aimed at enforcing food safety across the territory. The policy is also aligned with the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality.
Nigeria bears one of the heaviest burdens of viral hepatitis globally. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 20 million Nigerians are living with hepatitis B or C and most are unaware of their infection status. Hepatitis B alone is estimated to kill around 16,000 people in the country each year.
While hepatitis A and E typically spread through contaminated food or water, hepatitis B and C are primarily transmitted through blood or other bodily fluids. Experts warn that in environments with poor hygiene, open wounds, or unregulated food handling common in informal markets across Abuja’s outskirts the risk of transmission becomes even higher.
“Chronic hepatitis often develops silently, with no symptoms until significant liver damage has occurred,” a WHO report noted. Left untreated, hepatitis B or C can progress to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Yet access to routine screening and treatment remains limited, particularly among food vendors and low-income residents.
A 2023 report by HepB.org described Nigeria’s fight against hepatitis as urgent but underfunded, with national prevalence rates around 8.1% for hepatitis B and 1.1% for hepatitis C. Despite some progress in awareness, medical experts say much more needs to be done to halt transmission and scale up access to vaccines and affordable antiviral treatment.
“The inclusion of mandatory screening and vaccination is not just a policy step it’s a life-saving measure,” said Dr Fasawe. She emphasised that hepatitis B can be prevented with a safe and effective vaccine, which will now be promoted more widely across public health facilities.
The FCT’s hepatitis strategy will be implemented through a consortium of health and food sector stakeholders under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. This approach, the administration says, will allow greater technical reach, efficient funding, and accountability.
Food vendors will be expected to undergo periodic screenings, obtain health certificates, attend standardised hygiene and hepatitis training sessions, and comply with new licensing conditions. Enforcement will be handled jointly by health inspectors and other FCTA regulatory agencies.
Minister Wike urged food business owners, market leaders, restaurants, and other stakeholders to support the initiative and embrace it as a step toward better food industry standards.
“We must protect residents, uphold dignity in service, and place public safety above all,” he said.