The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (JSPHCDA), working in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has destroyed 5,520 cartons of expired noodles that were meant to be distributed during immunisation exercises across the state.
The destruction exercise took place under strict supervision and was aimed at preventing any possible health risk to the public. Officials said the noodles were no longer safe for consumption and could have caused harm if distributed.
The State Cold Chain Officer, Yusuf Inuwa, disclosed this during the exercise, explaining that the food items were originally supplied as incentives to encourage participation in polio and routine immunisation activities.
According to Inuwa, the noodles were supplied by the WHO ahead of planned immunisation campaigns scheduled for November 2025. The items were meant to be shared with children and caregivers during the National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), a nationwide programme aimed at boosting immunisation coverage, especially against polio.
In Nigeria, small food items such as noodles are often used as incentives during immunisation exercises to encourage parents to bring their children for vaccination, particularly in hard-to-reach communities.
“These noodles were provided as part of support for polio and routine immunisation activities,” Inuwa said. “They were not for sale but strictly for distribution during the campaign.”
Inuwa explained that the immunisation exercise was postponed following a directive from the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the federal body responsible for coordinating primary healthcare services across the country.
The campaign, which was initially planned for November 2025, was moved to December 2, 2025. By the time the new date was fixed, the noodles had already reached their “best before” date.
“As soon as we noticed that the food items had expired before the rescheduled campaign, we knew they could no longer be used,” Inuwa said.
He added that allowing expired food items to be distributed, even as incentives, would have been dangerous and against health and safety guidelines.
To prevent any misuse, the agency immediately began the process of retrieving the noodles from all parts of the state. Inuwa said all 5,520 cartons were collected from the 27 local government areas of Jigawa State.
“As a precautionary measure, we retrieved all the cartons to ensure that none was distributed after expiration,” he said.
He stressed that the retrieval exercise was thorough and carefully monitored to avoid any diversion of the expired products.
Health officials warned that consuming expired food items can lead to serious health problems. Inuwa said expired noodles could cause food poisoning, stomach infections, and other health complications, especially in children who are the main targets of immunisation campaigns.
“Once food items expire, they stop being support materials and become a liability,” he said. “Our responsibility is to protect the health of the people, and we cannot take risks with expired products.”
The destruction of the expired noodles was carried out openly and transparently to assure the public that the items would not find their way into the market or be consumed by residents.
Officials from several agencies were present during the exercise. These included representatives of the World Health Organisation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA).
Members of the media were also invited to witness the process, ensuring accountability and public confidence.
The presence of security agencies helped prevent any attempt to divert the items, while environmental officials ensured that the destruction was done in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
The Jigawa State Government said the public destruction of the expired noodles was important to maintain trust in the health system and immunisation programs.
Over the years, misinformation and mistrust have sometimes affected vaccination efforts in parts of the country. Health officials believe that being open about such issues helps to build confidence among residents.
By openly destroying the expired items, the agency said it demonstrated its commitment to safety, transparency, and responsible management of donated materials.
Jigawa State is one of the states that has recorded progress in routine immunisation coverage in recent years. With support from the federal government and international partners such as the WHO and UNICEF, the state has continued efforts to protect children against diseases like polio, measles, and tetanus.
The National Immunisation Plus Days campaign is part of Nigeria’s broader effort to completely eradicate polio and strengthen routine immunisation systems.
Health officials say incentives, community engagement, and proper logistics play key roles in the success of such campaigns.
Inuwa said the incident highlights the importance of proper planning, storage, and timing in public health programmes. He added that delays in campaigns can sometimes affect logistics, especially when food items with expiry dates are involved.
He assured residents that future campaigns would take such challenges into account to avoid waste.
“We are committed to improving our systems so that resources are used efficiently and safely,” he said.
The Jigawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency reassured residents that no expired noodles were distributed to the public and that the safety of children and families remains a top priority.
The agency also thanked the WHO and other partners for their continued support and cooperation in strengthening healthcare delivery in the state.