The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated three petrol tankers used to transport edible vegetable oil in Lagos State.
In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, the agency revealed that the oil had been trans-loaded into the tankers from an edible oil depot.
Concerned about the potential health risks due to chemical contamination from the tankers’ previous use for transporting petrol, NAFDAC officials escorted the tankers to a processing facility in Sango-Ota.
The crude soy oil was subsequently handed over to NAFDAC’s Southwest Zonal Office for further regulatory action.
In an accompanying video, a NAFDAC official explained that credible intelligence indicated that the same tankers used to transport vegetable oil had previously carried petroleum products.
“This is a significant public health concern that necessitated immediate action from NAFDAC. We intervened promptly and intercepted a truck in the process of being loaded,” the official stated.
The suspects involved were apprehended, and the tankers were seized for further investigation.
The official emphasized that tankers used to carry vegetable oil should not simultaneously be used to transport petroleum products, which were evident from the petrol and diesel tags found on them.
The investigation aims to inform the suspects about the severe health risks, including the potential carcinogenic effects, of mixing petroleum products with edible oils.
NAFDAC has also announced that its Director-General, Moji Adeyeye, has established a committee to create guidelines and a code of ethics for the marketing and distribution of edible vegetable oils in Nigeria.
The agency called on the public to report any suspicious or harmful practices related to food and other regulated products.
 has confiscated three petrol tankers for){kind=link}