In a bid to safeguard public health and improve food safety standards, Hon. Olalekan Abiola (Akinyele I) and Hon. Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele II) have jointly sponsored a motion in the Oyo State House of Assembly urging the Executive Arm of Government to take proactive steps to curb the widespread practice of drying cassava flour on roadsides across the state.
Cassava flour, locally known as lafun or elubo, is a staple food product and a vital source of income for thousands of rural and peri-urban dwellers in Oyo State.
However, due to the lack of modern drying infrastructure, many processors resort to spreading the flour on tarred roads and road shoulders to sun-dry it, a method that lawmakers say poses serious health, environmental, and safety risks.
The motion highlighted that roadside drying exposes cassava flour to contaminants such as dust, engine oil, heavy metals, microbes, and animal droppings, rendering it unsafe for human consumption.
Lawmakers also warned that the practice could contribute to the spread of Lassa fever, as the mastomys rat known to carry the virus is attracted to food substances like cassava flour.
Beyond health risks, the motion noted that the practice can lead to road accidents by reducing visibility, making roads slippery, and obstructing traffic flow.
“This unhealthy method not only endangers lives but also tarnishes the image of our state,” the Motion highlights
The lawmakers observed that many countries have banned roadside food drying and adopted enclosed mechanical drying systems with controlled temperature and humidity.
In contrast, Oyo State continues to grapple with a lack of modern cassava drying platforms and safe processing technologies such as solar dryers.
The motion urged the Executive Arm of Government to act swiftly through the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Natural Resources, and Health.
Key recommendations include the construction of cassava drying platforms in rural communities, deployment of Agricultural Extension Officers by the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency to educate farmers and processors on hygienic drying methods, and collaboration between farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and development partners to promote low-cost solar and raised drying technologies.
“We must prioritize the health of our citizens and the integrity of our food supply chain. This motion is a step towards modernizing cassava processing and protecting our communities.”
The House Committee on Food and Nutrition was thereafter saddled with the responsibility of working with the State Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health, and Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a regulatory framework.
This framework will monitor the processing of cassava and its products, ensuring that the state addresses the health and safety concerns raised by this practice in a sustainable and enforceable manner.
The Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin while commending the motion, described it as a timely and impactful intervention aimed at addressing a long-standing public health and safety concern.
He recalled that a similar motion had been presented during the 9th Assembly, underscoring the persistence of the issue and the need for more decisive action.
He emphasized that the practice of drying cassava flour on tarred roads and road shoulders—though born out of necessity due to inadequate drying infrastructure—poses significant risks to human health and public safety.
The Speaker charged the House Committee on Food and Nutrition to work closely with the relevant ministries to develop a robust regulatory framework that would monitor cassava processing activities across the state.
