The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has come out to say training, screening, and issuance of certificates of fitness to food, water, and beverage handlers in the Federal Capital Territory are still under its purview.
Mr Abdulrahman Sadiq, Director of Public Health, Human and Health Services Secretariat (HHSS) of the FCTA, disclosed this to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday.
Sadiq explained that the clarification became necessary to ensure that relevant stakeholders, particularly those in the hospitality industry, were all on the same page.
He said that training, screening, and certification of all food handlers were necessary to curb the outbreak of diseases caused by poor or unhealthy handling of food for public consumption.
He said that people operating restaurants, hotels, food processors, and those in the hospitality industry, in general, must be screened every six months and be certified fit to handle food for public consumption.
This, according to him, is to ensure that every food that members of the public consume is safe and will not lead to food poisoning or the outbreak of any diseases.
“The goal is to ensure public safety and to curtail the outbreak of diseases either because the people handling the food are not healthy or because the environment is not hygienic enough.
“This conference is organised to ensure that FCTA and relevant stakeholders are all on the same page on this and to also strengthen working synergy among stakeholders, including Abuja Municipal Area Council,” he said.
Also, Mrs Comfort Fasanya, Director of Legal Services, HHSS, explained that the challenge of who should train, screen, and certify food handlers in the FCT between FCTA and AMAC has been put to rest.
Fasanya said that Dunes Investment and Global Services, a hospitality business outfit, had dragged AMAC and FCTA before a Federal High Court over the issue.
She said that the company had asked the court to determine the agency or authority it should relate to and pay relevant fees and charges.
She said that the court had, on July 12, 2023, ruled that the applicant shall refer to the FCTA as the agency empowered to issue certificates of medical fitness as well as screen its food handlers.
The acting Secretary of HHSS, Mr Noel Haruna, called for the cooperation of relevant stakeholders to ensure strict compliance with the training, screening, and certification of food handlers.
According to him, the goal is to ensure the safety of members of the public from contaminated food, drinks, or beverages.
“Now that the matter has been put to rest by a court of competent jurisdiction, we should all work together for the safety of all residents of the FCT from any food poisoning,” he said.
On his part, Dr Mathew Ashikeni, Director of Special Duties, HHSS, called on the stakeholders to work as a team.
This, according to him, will ensure a healthy society free from all kinds of food poisoning and public health concerns on account of the consumption of food, drinks, or beverages.
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