The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has intercepted and seized three petrol tankers in Apapa, Lagos, carrying crude edible vegetable oil.
NAFDAC said in a press release on Wednesday that it acted “following a tip-off” about the potentially dangerous cargo.
According to the agency, the edible oil had been transferred to tanker trucks from a designated edible oil storage facility to transport the product in violation of regulatory standards.
Concerned about the health implications, NAFDAC seized the tankers and handed them over to the South West Zonal Office for legal action.
“Concerned about the potential health risks due to chemical contamination caused by the previous use of the tankers to transport petrol, NAFDAC officials escorted the tankers to a processing plant in Sango-Ota. The crude soybean oil was then handed over to the South West Zonal Office of NAFDAC for further regulatory action,” the agency revealed.
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NAFDAC also said a representative of the edible oil company acknowledged ownership of the seized vehicles and their contents.
Following the incident, NAFDAC Director General Mojisola Adeyeye constituted a committee to formulate guidelines and a code of ethics for the marketing and distribution of edible vegetable oil in Nigeria.
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NAFDAC has called on the public to report any suspicious or harmful practices involving food and regulated products to the agency.
The agency reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the health of the general public.
“We reaffirm our unwavering commitment to rigorous enforcement and continued vigilance to ensure the protection of public health and safety,” he said.