For many farmers and processors, the practice is seen as an affordable, age-old method of preservation. Health experts, however, warn that it quietly exposes food to serious health risks.

From Ogun, Ondo and Oyo in the South-West to Benue, Kogi and Niger in the North-Central; from Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi in the South-East to Adamawa, Taraba and Yobe in the North-East, roadside drying cuts across regions, cultures and crops, effectively turning busy transport routes into open-air drying grounds.

As vehicles speed past, clouds of dust settle directly on food destined for markets and household kitchens. With animals roaming freely and food laid on bare ground, experts say a dangerous practice has become normalized nationwide.

Dust Is More Than Just Sand

Explaining why the roadside is often used, a cassava processor, Mrs. Adebisi, said lack of space and access to sunlight leave farmers with few options.

“We don’t have space at home, and the sun is better near the road. We spread it and watch it till evening,” she said.

Environmental health expert, Sani John, warned that roadside dust is not harmless.

“Vehicle dust contains carbon particles, oil residues and sometimes heavy metals like lead. Once these enter food, washing cannot remove everything. People consume it gradually and harm their bodies without knowing,” he explained.

He noted that prolonged consumption of contaminated food can result in stomach infections, weakened immunity and long-term organ damage.

Animals Add Another Layer of Risk

At several drying points, goats and poultry were seen stepping on cassava, rice and beans prepared for sale.

Nutritionist, Mrs. Helen Okorie, said animals introduce bacteria, worms and fecal matter.

“Once animals walk on food, it becomes unsafe. Many cases of diarrhea, typhoid and intestinal worms come from poor processing. Bare soil also carries fungi that grow when food dries slowly,” she said.

She added that certain molds produce aflatoxins — toxic substances linked to liver cancer and stunted growth in children, noting that grains like rice and beans easily trap moisture and dirt.

Stones, Dust And Market Losses

Rice, beans and other grains are frequently dried along highways after washing or harvest. Along these routes, stones, gravel and dust easily mix with food.

As vehicles pass, tiny stones and dirt are blown into the grains — contaminants consumers later struggle to remove in their kitchens.

A trader, Mrs. Fatima Kudu, said, “People complain about stones in rice and beans. Many don’t realize that some of them enter during roadside drying and packaging.”

The practice also affects income. According to another trader, Mrs. Funke Ade, buyers reduce prices when food appears dirty, leading to financial losses.

A Threat To Road Safety

Commercial driver, Mr. Ibrahim Lawal, said roadside drying also poses danger to motorists.

“Sometimes food spreads into the road. Drivers swerve to avoid it and accidents can happen. Vehicles also crush the food, causing losses for farmers,” he said.

Hospitals See The Consequences

A community health worker in Osun State, Mrs. Desola Dotun, linked unsafe drying to rising cases of food-borne illness.

“People think sickness starts in the kitchen, but it often starts from the drying ground. We treat stomach upsets, food poisoning and worm infections regularly,” she said.

Medical Director of Talakawa Pharmacy, Dr. Fredrick Agbo, added that roadside drying exposes food to bacteria, fungi, insect infestation and chemical pollution from exhaust fumes.

“We treat food poisoning, chronic stomach infections and even liver complications. The problem usually begins at the drying stage,” he said.

He urged processors to adopt safer options such as raised platforms, clean tarps, solar dryers and covered drying areas, while calling on government support to reduce the risks.

Public Health Warnings

The Director of Public Health at the Niger State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Idris, warned that food dried openly along roadsides or on bare ground is unsafe.

Such food, he said, becomes contaminated by dust, birds, rodents and harmful microorganisms.

He advised that sun-dried foods should be properly cooked before consumption and, where drying is unavoidable, covered with mesh to limit contamination.

He also cautioned that animals may urinate or defecate on exposed food, while passing vehicles raise dust that settles on produce.

Farmers Need Support, Not Blame

Agricultural extension officer, Mr. Peter Danjuma, stressed that most farmers are constrained by lack of infrastructure.

“Many rural processors don’t have drying platforms or solar dryers. With government and NGO support, roadside drying will reduce,” he said.

Mrs. Adebisi echoed the concern: “We know dust enters the food, but if we stop, our cassava will spoil. We need help, not punishment.”

Niger State Steps In

In Niger State, community leaders have begun condemning unsafe food handling and promoting cleaner processing methods.

The move followed a sensitization programme in Mokwa organised by government agencies and development partners, targeting farmers from Lavun, Edati and Mokwa LGAs.

Health workers warned that roadside drying exposes food to dust, stones and animal waste, increasing the risk of food poisoning, cancer and intestinal complications.

Local council officials pledged support, while religious leaders urged ethical food handling.

Officials also announced plans to provide tarps and cement floors to farmers to encourage safer practices.

Some farmers admitted past carelessness and pledged to abandon roadside drying.

A Nationwide Risk

Roadside drying, experts say, is not a single mistake but a chain of risk involving farmers, traders, transporters, regulators and consumers.

In that brief drying stage, food absorbs dust, stones, exhaust fumes, animal waste, bacteria and toxic fungi.

While it serves as a survival strategy for processors, health experts describe it as a contamination zone, and hospitals see its impact in rising illness cases.

Experts warn that pollutants introduced during drying accumulate in the body over time, undermining immunity and child development, and leading to conditions ranging from diarrhea and typhoid to long-term organ damage.

The response in Niger State offers a possible model: provide infrastructure, educate communities, inspect markets and involve local leaders.

Without broader commitment, experts warn, roadside drying will remain an unofficial processing system — one that quietly turns Nigerian highways into pathways for disease.