The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the state government to take immediate action to end the widespread practice of drying cassava flour on roadsides across the state. The move aims to safeguard public health and promote food safety standards.
The call followed a motion jointly sponsored by Hon. Olalekan Abiola (Akinyele I) and Hon. Olatunde Kehinde (Akinyele II). The lawmakers expressed concern over the unhygienic method of sun-drying cassava flour, popularly known as lafun or elubo, on tarred roads and road shoulders.
They noted that the practice exposes the staple food to contaminants such as dust, engine oil, heavy metals, microbes, and animal droppings, making it unsafe for human consumption. The lawmakers also warned that the habit could attract rodents like the mastomys rat, which carries the Lassa fever virus.
According to the motion, roadside cassava drying not only poses serious health risks but also creates environmental and safety hazards. The lawmakers pointed out that it can cause road accidents by obstructing traffic, reducing visibility, and making roads slippery.
The Assembly therefore urged the state government to act through the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Environment and Natural Resources, and Health to develop sustainable alternatives. These include constructing cassava drying platforms in rural areas and introducing modern drying technologies such as solar dryers.
The motion also recommended that the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency deploy Agricultural Extension Officers to educate farmers and processors on hygienic drying methods. Collaboration among farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, and development partners was also encouraged to promote safe, low-cost drying solutions.
Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, commended the motion as a timely and impactful intervention, noting that a similar motion was presented in the 9th Assembly but lacked sufficient follow-through.
He emphasized that while the practice stems from inadequate infrastructure, it must now be addressed to protect public health and the state’s image. The House Committee on Food and Nutrition was directed to work with relevant ministries to develop a regulatory framework for cassava processing to ensure compliance with health and safety standards across the state.