The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) seized three petrol tankers being used to transport edible vegetable oil in Lagos State. In a post on X on Wednesday, the agency reported that the oil had been trans-loaded into the tankers from an edible oil depot.
NAFDAC officials, concerned about possible chemical contamination from the tankers’ previous use for transporting petrol, escorted the vehicles to a processing facility in Sango-Ota. The crude soy oil was then handed over to NAFDAC’s Southwest Zonal Office for further regulatory action.
A NAFDAC official, featured in an accompanying video, explained that credible information had revealed the same tankers were previously used to carry petroleum products, raising significant public health concerns. The suspects were apprehended, and the trucks were seized for further investigation.
NAFDAC noted that using tankers previously tagged for petrol and diesel to transport vegetable oil poses serious health risks, including the potential for carcinogenic contamination. The agency also announced that NAFDAC Director-General Moji Adeyeye has established a committee to develop guidelines and a code of ethics for the marketing and distribution of edible vegetable oils in Nigeria.
The public is urged to report any suspicious or unwholesome practices related to food and regulated products.
