The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated three petrol tankers in Lagos State that were reportedly used to transport edible vegetable oil.
The agency detailed the operation in a post on its official X handle on Wednesday, warning that the practice poses serious health risks due to the potential contamination of the oil with petrol remnants from the tankers.
“NAFDAC officials have seized three petrol tanker trucks in Apapa for allegedly transporting crude edible vegetable oil. The oil was reportedly trans-loaded into the tankers from an edible oil depot,” the agency stated in its post.
NAFDAC officials, recognizing the dangers associated with chemical contamination, promptly escorted the seized tankers to a processing facility in Sango-Ota. The crude soy oil contained in the tankers has since been handed over to the South-West zonal office of NAFDAC for further regulatory action.
In response to the growing concerns about food safety, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Moji Adeyeye, has taken proactive measures by establishing a committee tasked with developing guidelines and a code of ethics aimed at regulating the marketing and distribution of edible vegetable oils throughout the country.
The agency is also urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or unwholesome practices related to food and regulated products. NAFDAC reiterated its commitment to strict enforcement and continuous surveillance, emphasizing that these measures are crucial to protecting public health.
