Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has raised concerns over the alleged use of harmful chemicals in the cultivation and preservation of fruits in Nigeria, recounting how a laboratory test found freshly squeezed orange juice consumed by his wife, Dolapo, unfit for human consumption.
Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking at the Open Day for Gardeners’ Seminar, themed “Leaving The Earth Better Than We Found It,” held in Lagos on August 28.
A video of the event, published on his YouTube channel on Wednesday, subsequently attracted widespread attention online.
According to the former Vice President, his wife had stopped taking carbonated drinks several years ago and adopted freshly squeezed orange juice as a healthier alternative, consuming it regularly.
However, he said she began experiencing unexplained headaches despite maintaining the habit.
Osinbajo said his wife examined other aspects of her diet but could not determine what might be responsible for the recurring symptoms.
He explained that she eventually submitted a batch of the freshly squeezed orange juice for laboratory analysis: “She would look at my own Coke drinking habits with a lot of disapproval… But then, after a while, she started having some strange headaches, drinking her fresh juice every day,” Osinbajo said.
He added that the laboratory result came back with an alarming finding.
“The results came back. It showed that the orange juice, freshly squeezed, was not fit for human consumption. This is freshly squeezed orange juice. Not fit for human consumption,” he said.
Osinbajo used the experience to draw attention to concerns over the chemicals reportedly used by some farmers and fruit sellers, warning that consumers may unknowingly be exposed to harmful substances even when they believe they are making healthy dietary choices.
His account comes amid growing public concern in Nigeria over food safety, pesticide residues and the handling of fresh produce, with calls for stronger monitoring and enforcement to protect consumers.
