The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a two-week notice to manufacturers of edible oil and oil tanker operators to comply with new safety regulations aimed at preventing the contamination of vegetable oil with petroleum products during supply.
Mr Martins Iluyomade, Director of the Investigation and Enforcement (IE) Directorate of NAFDAC, gave this directive during a high-level meeting with edible oil manufacturers and members of the National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) in Lagos recently.
Iluyomade warned that no manufacturer is allowed to permit tankers used to carry petroleum products into their premises for loading edible oil.
The NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate further described using such tankers to carry edible oil as a breach of the rules, stressing that any such product is considered contaminated and not edible anymore.
He warned that tankers used to transport edible oil must be dedicated solely to that purpose and must adopt a green colour code for easy identification.
“Let nobody use a green colour-coded tanker to carry petroleum products, and let no petroleum tanker go and carry edible oil.
“This is because contamination has serious health implications for our citizens,” Iluyomade warned.
Meanwhile, the National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (NUEOTDN) has mandated all trucks transporting edible oil must be painted green and carry the official NUEOTDN sticker to aid enforcement.
According to the union, this measure will help regulators and the public easily identify legitimate transporters and ensure the integrity of edible oil distribution across the country.
NAFDAC called on all stakeholders, including manufacturers, tanker operators, and the general public, to support its efforts to ensure the safety of edible oil in Nigeria.
