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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has introduced a nationwide plan and roadmap focused on eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFAs) from Nigeria’s food chain.
This newly introduced regulation aligns with the Fats, Oils and Foods Containing Fats and Oils Regulations 2022 and establishes a legal limit of no more than 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of fat or oil in food items.
During the official launch held in Lagos on Friday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, described the initiative as a clear sign of Nigeria’s dedication to adopting global best practices in public health nutrition.
“This launch is not just about unveiling a document; it is about reaffirming our national commitment to protecting the health of Nigerians from dangerous yet preventable dietary risks,” she said.
Professor Adeyeye, an expert in pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug evaluation, issued a warning that trans fats are major dietary contributors to cardiovascular illnesses, the leading cause of death worldwide.
“The food we eat can kill us. If you eat well, you will use less medicine,” she stressed.
She referred to scientific evidence indicating that consuming large quantities of trans fats raises the risk of death from heart-related conditions by 28%. The majority of industrial TFAs are formed during the partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils — a method used to prolong shelf life and lower production costs, but one that carries serious health dangers.
Worldwide, trans fat consumption is responsible for over 278,000 deaths each year.
Acknowledging its regulatory initiatives, the World Health Organisation (WHO) included Nigeria in 2023 on a list of seven countries that had enacted new best-practice policies for eliminating TFAs — alongside Egypt, Mexico, Moldova, North Macedonia, the Philippines, and Ukraine.
Professor Adeyeye stated that the next phase involves comprehensive implementation, strict enforcement, and validation from the WHO.
Speaking on behalf of the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, Mr Pinda Wakawa applauded Nigeria’s strategic leadership and political commitment in addressing health hazards associated with TFAs.
“This milestone marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to improving public health and reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases,” she said.
Nigeria now becomes the second nation in the WHO African Region, following South Africa, to implement a best-practice TFA regulation.
“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative,” Ms Wakawa added.
The WHO promised ongoing technical assistance, including training initiatives and systems for monitoring, to ensure that the regulations are enforced effectively.
According to Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), a global public health organisation, while Nigeria’s trans fat ban in 2023 was a significant step for national health, several hurdles to implementation remain — such as insufficient laboratory infrastructure and the lack of standardised procedures for testing.
To address these issues, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, WHO, and RTSL collaborated to equip laboratories across Nigeria with specialised tools and trained staff in the WHO’s simplified methods for testing TFAs.
At the launch, the Executive Director of RTSL, Nanlop Ogbureke, highlighted the necessity of enforcing the new national plan:
“It is one thing to have a policy or regulation; it is another to ensure its enforcement. As RTSL, we are committed to supporting Nigeria to make TFA a thing of the past.”
“Together, through collaboration and shared commitment, we can build a healthier future for our country, one free of the dangers of TFA,” she added.
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