(NAFDAC Officials. Photo Credit: News Express)
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted two tankers designated for conveying edible vegetable oil after discovering they were instead being used to transport Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) in Lagos.
The NAFDAC Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, who briefed journalists on Monday in Lagos, described the development as a serious threat to public health and food safety.
He said the discovery was made during one of the agency’s recent enforcement operations in the state.
According to him, investigations revealed that the two tankers, which were meant exclusively for transporting edible vegetable oil, had been loaded with diesel in breach of food safety regulations.
The director said the manager involved claimed ignorance of the colour-coding requirements guiding edible oil tankers, adding that the vehicles had reportedly only ever been used to convey diesel.
Iluyomade disclosed that the two tankers and their drivers had been taken into custody, with investigations ongoing to determine the full scope of the violation and ensure appropriate regulatory action is taken.
He stressed that vegetable oil has no business being associated with petrol or petroleum products, which is why the agency takes such matters seriously, noting that any tanker designated for edible vegetable oil must be used exclusively for that purpose, in line with international best practices for food safety.
The director assured the public that NAFDAC would step up its enforcement efforts and remain extra vigilant to prevent a recurrence of such violations.
Iluyomade, who also chairs the National Taskforce, urged operators in the sector to comply with established safety and regulatory requirements, while the agency appealed to members of the public to support its enforcement drive by reporting suspicious activities to the nearest NAFDAC office nationwide.