FCTA to Begin Mandatory Hepatitis Screening for Food Handlers in Abuja
Initiative Aims to Strengthen Public Health and Food Safety in the FCT
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has announced a new policy mandating hepatitis screening for all food handlers operating in restaurants, markets, bakeries, and canteens across Abuja.
The policy, announced on Tuesday, July 30, 2025, by Lere Olayinka, the Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, is aimed at reducing the risk of foodborne diseases and improving hygiene in public food spaces.
Diseases Targeted: Hepatitis A, B, C, and E
According to the FCTA, the initiative will focus on Hepatitis A and E, which are commonly transmitted through contaminated food or water, and Hepatitis B and C, which spread through blood and other bodily fluids.
The screening program is part of a broader effort to improve food safety, consumer health, and hygiene standards within the FCT.
Public–Private Partnership Approach
The administration revealed that the screening and enforcement will be carried out through a public–private partnership (PPP). This consortium will manage the screening process, licensing of food vendors, hygiene education, and a vaccination program for Hepatitis B.
All food vendors and handlers will be required to undergo:
Medical screening for hepatitis
Training in food hygiene and safety
Routine inspections and certification
Why It Matters
This initiative comes amid increasing public health concerns and aligns with Nigeria’s efforts to reduce the prevalence of hepatitis, especially in the wake of World Hepatitis Day 2025. The FCTA emphasized that maintaining a hepatitis-free food sector is critical to public health in a fast-growing city like Abuja.
Failure to comply may result in revocation of operational licenses or closure of non-compliant facilities.
Next Steps
Food vendors and business owners in the FCT are expected to begin preparations for compliance as the screening process rolls out in phases. Details on enforcement timelines and designated screening centers are expected to be released soon.
