The House of Representatives on Wednesday stepped down a bill seeking to ban the production, importation, distribution, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils in Nigeria following concerns by lawmakers over its potential impact on public health, existing regulatory agencies and the livelihoods of small-scale producers.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by the member representing Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chike Okafor, was slated for second reading during plenary but was deferred after members questioned some of its provisions and complained that copies of the bill had not been adequately circulated.
Leading the debate, Okafor said the bill was intended to tackle the growing public health risks associated with the widespread consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils.
He said available statistics showed that about 67 per cent of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oils, while only 31 per cent of edible oils in circulation are fortified.
Citing the World Health Organisation (WHO), the lawmaker noted that food fortification is “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, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils, while promoting collaboration among research institutes, universities and state ministries to improve seedlings and establish cooking oil processing mills through public-private partnerships.
Okafor said the proposed legislation also prescribes penalties, including imprisonment for offenders, while providing 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, the proposal drew opposition from several lawmakers, who warned that it could hurt thousands of small-scale palm oil producers, particularly in rural communities where local processing serves as a major source of livelihood.
The member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Paschal Agbodike, urged the House to proceed with caution.
“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, like my people, is very important,” he said.
Also opposing the bill, the member representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, Gaza Gbefwi, argued that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) already has the statutory responsibility to regulate edible oils and other food products.
“I do not think we need to over-legislate. Instead of trying to overdo things, we should strengthen existing laws and oversight. We already have NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria. If there are gaps in the Acts establishing these agencies, we can call for amendments,” he said.
The member representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Wale Raji, backed the position, saying the proposed legislation risked duplicating existing laws.
“NAFDAC is already regulating food and drugs. Let us look at the laws establishing NAFDAC because their mandate already covers what this bill is trying to achieve,” he said.
Speaking in support of the bill, the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Sada Soli, argued that the legislation would strengthen, rather than duplicate, NAFDAC’s regulatory functions.
“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.
As debate continued, the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, observed that many lawmakers had not received copies of the bill, making it difficult to scrutinise its provisions and contribute meaningfully to the debate.
In response, Okafor appealed to the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, to step down the bill to allow for wider circulation and further consultations with stakeholders.
The Deputy Speaker granted the request.
The proposed legislation comes amid growing concerns over food safety and nutrition in Nigeria. Health experts have consistently advocated the fortification of staple foods, including edible oils, with essential micronutrients such as vitamin A to reduce nutritional deficiencies, particularly among children and pregnant women.
Nigeria already operates mandatory food fortification programmes for selected food products, while NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria are responsible for enforcing food quality and safety standards.
However, the continued circulation of unbranded and informally processed edible oils, especially in open markets, has renewed debate over whether existing regulations are sufficient or require stronger enforcement.
