By Ahmed Ahmed
The Bauchi State Government has directed all food vendors across the state to undergo mandatory medical examinations twice a year or face sanctions for non-compliance.
The directive was issued by the Director of Enforcement and Compliance at the Bauchi State Environmental Protection Agency (BASEPA), Alhaji Mohammed Usman, during a training session held in Misau for 50 food vendors.
The event was organized by WaterAid Nigeria with funding support from DP World as part of activities marking the 2025 Global Handwashing Day celebration.In his presentation on environmental hygiene, Usman emphasized the importance of proper waste management and pest control in and around food vending areas.
He advised vendors to maintain personal cleanliness by keeping their nails short, wearing clean clothing and head coverings, and avoiding smoking at work especially when illto protect consumers from preventable diseases linked to poor hygiene.
Also speaking, Malam Haruna Suleiman of BASEPA highlighted the impact of proper handwashing practices.
He noted that regular handwashing with soap before meals and after defecation could reduce respiratory infections by up to 25 percent and diarrheal diseases by as much as 50 percent among food handlers.
Earlier, WODASS Programme Manager and WaterAid representative, Magaji Barde, explained that participants were selected from various towns and villages within Misau Emirate to help spread hygiene awareness across local markets.
Representing the Emir of Misau, Alhaji Suleiman Ahmed, Sarkin Sumawa Alhaji Mohammed Sarkina Shehu stressed that 80 percent of consumer health safety depends on food vendors’ hygiene.
He urged strict adherence to best practices to eradicate diseases such as cholera and typhoid.Participants called on BASEPA to strictly enforce sanctions against defiant vendors to discourage unhygienic behavior.
