Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), popularly known as KAI, have arrested a suspected vendor of yam flour, identified as Mrs. Kehinde Raji, for allegedly selling adulterated flour powder mixed with yam peels in the Ajelogo area of the state.
The arrest followed a formal complaint lodged by executives of the Elubo Sellers Association in the Maidan area, prompting swift action by LAGESC officials attached to the Mile 12 market, a major food distribution hub in Lagos.
Confirming the development, the Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Olatunbosun Cole (Rtd), said the agency acted based on credible information and is determined to rid the state’s markets of harmful food practices.
“We effected the arrest of a suspected yam flour vendor selling adulterated flour powder to Lagosians at the Mile 12 market,” Cole said.
“The unwholesome act of this suspect is a contributory cause to major health problems being faced by consumers of these adulterated foods at different levels.”
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The LAGESC boss noted that the suspect, during interrogation, insisted she only sold elubo lafun—a fermented cassava flour—and denied adding any foreign substances to her product.
“According to her, elubo lafun typically retains its unique texture and should not be mixed with other flours,” he added.
Mrs. Raji reportedly told the agency that she ventured into the business in 2024 after losing her husband, leaving her with three children to care for. She explained that she was encouraged to join the trade after observing its profitability among other traders.
Meanwhile, the suspected adulterated flour samples have been seized and forwarded to the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for further analysis.
Cole stressed that legal actions would be taken against the suspect depending on NAFDAC’s findings and recommendations.
In a related statement shared on the official Twitter page of the Lagos State Government (@followlasg), the agency reiterated its commitment to safeguarding public health through proactive enforcement.
“LAGESC will continue to act decisively against food adulteration in Lagos markets. Residents are urged to be vigilant and report such activities to appropriate authorities,” the statement read.
The Corps Marshal also urged market leaders and traders to maintain ethical standards and uphold food safety practices to avoid legal consequences and protect consumer health.
