REPS STEP DOWN BILL TO BAN UNBRANDED, UNFORTIFIED COOKING OILS
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By; Sunmola Ganiyat
The House of Representatives on Wednesday stepped down a bill seeking to prohibit the production, importation, distribution, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils following extensive debate over its potential impact on public health, existing regulations and the livelihoods of rural producers.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chike Okafor, was presented for second reading but was deferred after lawmakers raised concerns about its provisions and the inadequate circulation of copies of the bill.
Leading the debate, Okafor said the bill was designed to address growing public health concerns associated with the widespread consumption of unbranded and unfortified cooking oils in Nigeria.
He cited statistics indicating that about 67 per cent of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oils, while only 31 per cent of edible oils in circulation are fortified.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), the lawmaker described food fortification as “a proven, cost-effective strategy to address micronutrient deficiencies and improve public health.”
According to him, the bill seeks to prohibit the production, importation, distribution and sale of unfortified and unbranded edible oils, while encouraging collaboration among research institutions, universities and state ministries to improve seedlings and establish cooking oil processing mills through public-private partnerships.
Okafor added that the proposed law provides penalties, including prison terms for offenders, while granting a transition period for producers and businesses to comply with the new requirements.
“This is a matter of life and death. It is a call to protect the health of Nigerians,” he said.
However, several lawmakers opposed the bill, warning that it could negatively affect thousands of small-scale palm oil producers, particularly in rural communities.
The lawmaker representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Paschal Agbodike, argued that the legislation could threaten the livelihoods of local palm oil producers.
“This bill is not okay. Many of my people are into the production of palm oil locally. We must be careful about the laws we are trying to make because the livelihood of people in the rural areas is very important,” he said.
Similarly, the member representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, Gaza Gbefwi, maintained that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) already possesses the legal authority to regulate edible oils and other food products.
“I do not think we need to over-legislate. We should strengthen existing laws and oversight. We already have NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. If there are gaps in their enabling Acts, we can amend them,” he said.
His position was supported by the member representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Wale Raji, who cautioned against the unnecessary proliferation of laws, noting that NAFDAC’s existing mandate already covers food regulation.
Backing the bill, however, the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Sada Soli, argued that the proposed legislation would complement, rather than duplicate, NAFDAC’s responsibilities.
“The bill is mindful of NAFDAC. This legislation is trying to improve an existing framework, and this is not harmful. This bill is not against the local production of palm oil,” he said.
During the debate, the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, observed that many lawmakers had not received copies of the bill, making informed deliberation difficult.
Following the concerns raised, the sponsor appealed to the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, to step down the bill to allow for wider circulation and further consultations.
The Deputy Speaker subsequently granted the request.
The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns over food safety and nutrition in Nigeria. While health experts continue to advocate the fortification of edible oils with essential micronutrients such as Vitamin A, NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) currently regulate food quality, safety standards and compliance.
However, the continued prevalence of unbranded and informally processed cooking oils in markets across the country has fuelled calls for stronger regulatory enforcement and improved consumer protection.
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