By Ogochukwu Ogene
Contributing Writer
Onumba.com, Nigeria ——— Imagine buying fresh oranges, squeezing them yourself and thinking, “At least, this one is healthy.”
Now imagine taking that same juice to a laboratory and being told it is “not fit for human consumption.”
That is the experience former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo says his wife, Dolapo Osinbajo, had.
And honestly, it is the kind of story that will make you look at the next fruit you buy twice.
How It Started
According to Osinbajo, his wife decided to stop taking carbonated drinks and switch to freshly squeezed orange juice.
Makes sense, right?
Fresh fruit.
No soft drink.
No fizzy drinks.
Just pure orange juice.
But after she started drinking the juice, Osinbajo said she began experiencing frequent headaches.
At first, it may have looked like one of those ordinary health issues that would eventually go away.
But the headaches reportedly continued.
So, instead of guessing, his wife decided to investigate.
She sent a batch of the orange juice to a laboratory for testing.
The result, according to Osinbajo, was disturbing.
He said the laboratory report described the juice as “not fit for human consumption.”
Now, that is where the matter gets interesting.
So, What Was Wrong With the Oranges?
Osinbajo used the experience to raise concerns about the way some farm produce is grown, ripened and preserved in Nigeria.
He spoke about the use of chemicals by some farmers and fruit sellers, particularly chemicals that may be used to speed up the ripening process or preserve produce for longer periods.
One of the chemicals he mentioned was calcium carbide.
According to him, there have been concerns about its use in artificially ripening fruits such as bananas, mangoes, pawpaw and tomatoes.
He also referred to studies from places including Ado-Ekiti, Uyo and Lagos, saying some fruit sellers admitted using chemicals to ripen or preserve produce.
And this is where many Nigerians can relate.
Because how many of us actually ask what was used to make that fruit ripen?
We see a beautiful basket of mangoes and buy.
We see fresh oranges and buy.
We see ripe pawpaw and buy.
Nobody is standing there asking the seller, “Oga, what did you use to ripen this one?”
We just want our fruit.
But Here Is the Bigger Problem
This is not to say that every orange in the Nigerian market is dangerous.
It is also important to point out that Osinbajo’s story, by itself, does not independently prove that chemicals in the oranges caused his wife’s headaches.
His point, however, raises a serious food-safety conversation.
Because the journey from farm to our dining table is long.
A fruit can be grown on a farm, harvested, transported across different states, stored somewhere, exposed to different conditions, treated to make it last longer and eventually sold to a consumer.
By the time you pick it up from the market, you may have no idea what happened to it along the way.
Nigerians Deserve to Know What They Are Eating
The average Nigerian is already dealing with expensive food.
Now we are also asking whether the food we manage to buy is actually safe.
That is not a small matter.
Farmers need proper education about safe agricultural practices.
Traders need to understand the dangers of using harmful chemicals.
Regulatory agencies also need to do more testing and monitoring.
And consumers deserve clear information.
Because nobody should buy a fruit, take it home, squeeze it into a cup and unknowingly serve themselves a chemical mixture.
The Orange Juice Story Should Spark a Bigger Conversation
Osinbajo’s experience may be personal, but the issue he raised affects everybody.
Rich or poor.
Young or old.
Whether you buy your fruits from a supermarket or from the woman selling by the roadside.
Food safety concerns everybody.
And perhaps this is the conversation we should be having.
Not just when a former Vice President tells us about what happened in his own home.
We should be asking what is happening in our markets every single day.
Because at the end of the day, if something looks fresh, smells fresh and tastes fresh, it should not leave us wondering whether it is actually safe.
About the Author: Ogochukwu Promise Ogene is a Nigerian creative writer, social commentator, spoken word artist and digital skills coach. She is the founder of The Prolific Hub, a platform that empowers writers and tech creatives to express themselves, build confidence and turn their skills into opportunities. Through her writing, Ogochukwu explores trending issues, society, relationships, youth development, technology, creativity and everyday Nigerian experiences. She uses storytelling and social commentary to spark conversations, challenge perspectives and make important issues relatable. Her writing combines honesty, humour and a strong understanding of the issues that matter to everyday Nigerians.
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