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 in Nigeria following concerns raised by lawmakers over its potential impact on public health, existing regulatory laws and the livelihoods of rural producers.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Hon. Chike Okafor, who represents Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, was slated for a second reading during plenary but was withdrawn for further consultations after members expressed reservations about its provisions and the limited circulation of the bill.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 edible oils across the country.
He cited available data indicating that while more than 67 per cent of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oils, only about 31 per cent of edible oils in circulation are fortified with essential nutrients.
According to him, food fortification remains a proven and cost-effective strategy for combating micronutrient deficiencies and improving public health.
Okafor explained that the bill proposed collaboration among research institutions, universities and state ministries to improve oil crop seedlings and establish edible oil processing mills through public-private partnerships.
He added that the legislation would prohibit the production, importation, distribution and sale of unfortified and unbranded edible oils while allowing existing producers a transition period to comply with the new standards. The bill also proposed sanctions, including fines and imprisonment, for violators.
Describing the proposal as a public health intervention, Okafor said the legislation was intended to safeguard the health of Nigerians.
However, several lawmakers opposed the bill, warning that it could have unintended consequences for thousands of small-scale palm oil producers, particularly in rural communities where local oil processing serves as a major source of income.
Hon. Paschal Agbodike, representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State, urged the House to proceed cautiously, arguing that the legislation could threaten the livelihoods of many local palm oil producers.
Similarly, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi, representing Karu/Keffi/Kokona Federal Constituency of Nasarawa State, argued that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) already possesses sufficient legal powers to regulate edible oils and other food products.
He maintained that rather than creating new legislation, lawmakers should focus on strengthening existing regulatory frameworks where necessary.
Hon. Wale Raji, representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, shared the same position, cautioning against what he described as unnecessary duplication of legislation when NAFDAC’s existing mandate already covers food regulation.
In contrast, Hon. Sada Soli, representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, defended the bill, stating that it was intended to complement, rather than replace, NAFDAC’s regulatory responsibilities. He also stressed that the proposal was not targeted at discouraging local palm oil production.
During the debate, Hon. Billy Osawaru, representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency of Edo State, observed that many lawmakers had not received copies of the bill, making it difficult for them to properly examine its provisions before contributing to the debate.
Following the deliberations, the sponsor requested that consideration of the bill be postponed to allow wider circulation of the document and further consultations with stakeholders to address concerns raised by members.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, granted the request and stepped down the bill for consideration on a later legislative date.
The proposed legislation comes amid ongoing discussions on food safety and nutrition in Nigeria, where 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.
Although Nigeria already operates mandatory food fortification programmes for selected food products under the supervision of NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the continued circulation of unbranded and improperly processed edible oils in open markets has sustained calls for stronger enforcement of existing food safety regulations.