The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a two-week ultimatum 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.
NAFDAC gave the 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 on Friday.
Director of the Investigation and Enforcement Directorate of NAFDAC, Dr. Martins Iluyomade declared that the agency would no longer tolerate the use of tankers previously used to transport petroleum products for conveying edible oils.
“No manufacturer is allowed to permit tankers used to carry petroleum products into their premises for loading edible oil. It is a breach of the rules, and any such product is considered contaminated,” Dr. Iluyomade stated.
He emphasised that allowing contaminated oil into the market is a public health and national security threat, warning that severe sanctions will follow non-compliance.
According to him, 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 code 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,” he said.
Dr. Iluyomade stressed that this regulation is being implemented under the powers granted to NAFDAC to safeguard public health and prevent contamination in the edible oil value chain.
He revealed that in the past, some operators had used the same trucks to carry both diesel and edible oil, leading to contamination of oil consumed by millions of Nigerians.
“What we are saying is that people are drinking diesel indirectly. These things cannot continue,” he warned.
NAFDAC has now mandated that any truck used to transport vegetable oil must not, under any circumstances, be used to carry petroleum products, even temporarily. Any tanker caught violating the new regulations risks confiscation and forfeiture to the Federal Government.
Similarly, manufacturing facilities that allow non-compliant tankers to load edible oil risk closure, while individuals within those facilities who facilitate such violations will be held accountable.
“We will not allow anyone to use their truck to kill Nigerians because they are looking for money,” Iluyomade added.
NAFDAC’s directive follows a series of stakeholder meetings with oil producers, distributors, and now transporters. The agency has identified transportation as one of the riskiest points in the edible oil supply chain and is taking urgent action to address it.
Dr. Iluyomade, who also chairs the Federal Task Force on Food and Drug Enforcement, concluded with a strong warning: “Going forward after this meeting, any facility or tanker that flouts this directive will face immediate sanctions. We are ready to begin implementation immediately to safeguard the health of Nigerians.”
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.
Also speaking, Luke Bamidele Tanpinnu, Quality Assurance Manager at Premium Edible Oil Products Limited, said the company no longer sells bulk oil to dealers without NAFDAC approval. He explained that this policy was introduced after a previous experience with the agency.
He noted that their facility operates a food safety management system to help identify and control risks. One such measure is a strict ban on tankers previously used for petrol or diesel from loading edible oil.
Tanpinnu raised concerns about plain tankers that still carry NUPENG stickers on their truck heads. This, he said, causes confusion at the point of entry and makes enforcement difficult. He urged the relevant association to take responsibility for proper identification of their members.
On his part, the National Secretary of NUEOTDN,Usman Tajudeen reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to public safety and regulatory compliance, and emphasised its proactive steps to train drivers, enforce safety standards, and adopt the newly mandated colour-coding system for edible oil transportation.
NUEOTDN raised concerns about malpractice within the supply chain, pointing out that some operators disguise non-compliant trucks just to access loading facilities. Despite these challenges, the union maintained that it has consistently collaborated with security agencies to report suspicious activities and support government regulations aimed at protecting consumers.
To aid enforcement, the union has mandated that all trucks transporting edible oil must be painted green and carry the official NUEOTDN sticker. This measure, it said, will help regulators and the public easily identify legitimate transporters and ensure the integrity of edible oil distribution across the country.
“We are doing our possible best. Our drivers are being trained, even the newly recruited ones. We are ready to cooperate with the government and the manufacturers because we all want the same thing, to save lives and safeguard our business”, he added.
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