The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has unveiled a nationwide strategy and roadmap to eliminate industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFAs) from Nigeria’s food supply chain. The new regulation, introduced under the Fats, Oils, and Foods Containing Fats and Oils Regulations 2022, sets a legal limit of no more than 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of fat or oil in food products.
Speaking at the launch in Lagos on Friday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the initiative demonstrates Nigeria’s commitment to global best practices in public health nutrition. She warned that TFAs are a major dietary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, the world’s leading cause of death, and emphasized that eating healthy reduces reliance on medicines. Research shows that high TFA intake raises the risk of heart disease-related deaths by 28%.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recognized Nigeria in 2023 as one of seven countries that adopted best-practice regulations for TFA elimination, placing it second in Africa after South Africa. WHO representative, Mr. Pinda Wakawa, praised Nigeria’s leadership and stressed that eliminating TFAs is both a technical and moral responsibility. WHO pledged continued technical support for enforcement and monitoring.
However, health experts caution that challenges remain, including limited laboratory capacity and lack of standardized testing protocols. To address this, the Federal Ministry of Health, WHO, and Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL) have provided specialized equipment and training to local laboratories. RTSL Executive Director, Nanlop Ogbureke, urged strict enforcement of the new roadmap, stressing that collaboration is key to making Nigeria free from the dangers of trans fats.
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