By Rhoda Godwin
In a powerful reminder that public health is priceless, the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BYSESA) has taken decisive action against the sale and consumption of unhealthy processed foods, condemning the circulation of unsafe fried chicken and expired consumable products across the state.
The Authority raised the alarm yesterday during the January Environmental Sanitation Exercise, as it supervised the destruction of condemned and impounded processed fried chickens at its premises in Yenagoa. The exercise, though difficult to watch, sent a clear and emotional message: the lives of Bayelsans must come before profit.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Authority, High Chief Timothy Diekivie Itiedu, expressed deep concern over the growing disregard for food safety, warning that many health challenges confronting residents are directly linked to what they eat.
“People must be mindful of what they buy and consume,” he said. “Poor health conditions are often the result of unhealthy food intake. This is not just about sanitation—it is about saving lives.”
High Chief Itiedu emphasized that the destruction of the condemned food items was not intended to victimize traders or individuals, but to enforce necessary regulations, deter harmful practices, and protect the general public in line with the Authority’s mandate.
Adding clarity to the health risks involved, the Permanent Secretary of the Authority, Dr. Ifiemi Ikoko, revealed that investigations showed the oil used in frying the chickens had been repeatedly reused until it became carbonized, a condition experts describe as extremely dangerous to human health.
“Such oil contains toxic substances that can cause long-term damage to vital organs,” Dr. Ikoko explained, stressing that the dangers often go unnoticed by unsuspecting consumers.
Also speaking during the exercise, the Controller of Health Services, Mr. Sampou Dean Ebikabowei, who supervised the destruction, urged members of the public to always verify the quality, source, and safety of food items before consumption, noting that vigilance can mean the difference between life and death.
Beyond unhealthy processed foods, the Authority raised serious concerns over the alarming circulation of expired drinks and beverages within the state. While supervising the destruction of large quantities of impounded expired products, the Chairman directed the Health Services Department to intensify surveillance, clamp down on fake and expired consumables, and ensure strict sanctions against any trader found endangering public health.
“No one has the right to trade with the lives of Bayelsans,” High Chief Itiedu warned. “Those who continue to sell unhealthy or expired products will face the full weight of the law.”
He reaffirmed that the health and well-being of residents remain a top priority for the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority, pledging sustained enforcement and public awareness to ensure unsafe consumables do not gain widespread circulation in the state.
As the condemned items were destroyed, the message echoed loudly beyond the sanitation ground: a healthy Bayelsa begins with safe food, responsible trading, and collective vigilance.
