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NAFDAC RTSL, moves to eliminate trans fats from Nigeria’s food supply

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has launched a comprehensive national strategy and roadmap aimed at eliminating industrially produced trans-fatty acids (TFAs) from Nigeria’s food supply chain.

The new regulation was developed in line with the Fats, Oils and Foods Containing Fats and Oils Regulations 2022, and sets a legal threshold of no more than 2 grams of trans fats per 100 grams of fat or oil in food products.

Speaking at the launch event in Lagos on Friday, NAFDAC’s Director General, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, described the strategy as a clear demonstration of Nigeria’s commitment to aligning with 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.

Prof. Adeyeye, a professor of pharmaceutical manufacturing and drug evaluation, warned that trans fats are among the leading dietary contributors to cardiovascular disease — the world’s number one cause of death.

“The food we eat can kill us. If you eat well, you will use less medicine,” she stressed.

Scientific data, she noted, shows that high intake of trans fats increases the risk of heart disease-related deaths by 28%. Most industrial TFAs are created through partial hydrogenation of vegetable oils — a process used to extend shelf life and reduce cost, but one that poses serious health risks.

Globally, over 278,000 deaths each year are linked to trans fat consumption.

In recognition of its policy efforts, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed Nigeria in 2023 among seven countries where new best-practice regulations for TFA elimination had taken effect — alongside Egypt, Mexico, Moldova, North Macedonia, the Philippines, and Ukraine.

Prof. Adeyeye said the next step is full implementation, enforcement, and validation by the WHO.

Representing the WHO Country Representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, Mr. Pinda Wakawa commended Nigeria’s strategic leadership and political will in addressing TFA-related health risks.

“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 stands as the second country in the WHO African Region, after South Africa, to adopt a best-practice TFA policy.

“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 pledged continued technical support, including capacity-building and monitoring mechanisms to ensure enforcement of the regulation.

According to global health non-profit Resolve to Save Lives (RTSL), while Nigeria’s TFA ban in 2023 marked a major public health milestone, several implementation challenges remain — such as limited laboratory capacity and the absence of standardised testing protocols.

To bridge these gaps, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, WHO, and RTSL supported laboratories across the country by procuring specialised equipment and training personnel in WHO’s simplified TFA testing methods.

At the launch, RTSL’s Executive Director, Nanlop Ogbureke, emphasized the importance of enforcing the new roadmap:

“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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Beatrice Ekweremadu Returns To Nigeria After UK Prison Release

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Wife of former Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu returns home following custodial sentence, while her husband remains imprisoned in UK.

The wife of former Nigerian Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Beatrice, has returned to Nigeria after being released from a prison in the United Kingdom.

Her arrival in the country on Tuesday, January 21, 2026, followed the completion of the custodial portion of her sentence for her role in a high-profile organ-harvesting conspiracy.

Mrs Ekweremadu was received by family members and close associates at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, marking her first time on Nigerian soil since the legal saga began in mid-2022.

While her return has sparked celebrations in her hometown of Mpu, in the Aninri Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State, it came amid the continued incarceration of her husband in London.

The return of the former Deputy Senate President’s wife followed her May 2023 conviction by the Old Bailey in London.

She was sentenced to four years and six months in prison for conspiring to facilitate the travel of a 21-year-old Lagos Street trader to the UK for the purpose of harvesting his kidney.

The organ was intended for the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who suffered from a chronic kidney condition.

The case, which was prosecuted under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015, marked the first time the legislation was used in a human organ-harvesting prosecution.

Under UK law, non-violent offenders are typically eligible for release on license after serving half of their custodial term.

Reports indicated that Mrs. Ekweremadu’s release was further facilitated by her good conduct record and by a broader UK government initiative to address severe prison overcrowding.

Despite his wife’s return, Senator Ekweremadu remains in a UK correctional facility serving a significantly longer sentence.

In May 2023, the former lawmaker was handed a nine-year and eight-month term, as the court deemed him the primary driver of the conspiracy.

Efforts by the Nigerian federal government to secure his release or repatriation have so far been unsuccessful.

In late 2025, a high-powered diplomatic delegation visited London to explore a Prisoner Transfer Agreement (PTA) that would allow the Senator to serve the remainder of his term in a Nigerian facility.

However, the UK Home Office reportedly rejected the proposal in November 2025, citing concerns over the guarantee of the sentence’s continued enforcement if transferred to the Nigerian jurisdiction.

The third convict in the case, Dr. Obinna Obeta, who was described by the prosecution as the medical “middleman,” continues to serve a 10-year prison sentence in the UK.

Meanwhile, the couple’s daughter, Sonia, who was cleared of all criminal charges during the 2023 trial, remains in the United Kingdom, where she is reportedly receiving ongoing medical treatment for her condition.

 

 

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Elon Musk Claims Going To Medical School Is Now Pointless Because Robots Will Replace Human Surgeons By 2030 (Video)

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Elon Musk has asserted that medical degrees may soon become obsolete, as AI-powered robots are expected to surpass human surgeons in performance.

The Tesla and SpaceX CEO claimed that humanoid robots like Tesla’s Optimus will outperform the world’s best surgeons within three years.

Speaking on the Moonshots podcast hosted by Peter Diamandis, Musk argued that human doctors are slow to train, prone to error, and fundamentally limited.

“Right now there’s a shortage of doctors and great surgeons,” Musk said.

“[It takes] a super long time to learn how to be a good doctor Doctors have limited time, they make mistakes. How many great surgeons are there? Not that many,” he added.

“So don’t go to medical school?” Diamandis asked Musk.

While robotic surgery is advancing rapidly, experts warn that medicine cannot function without human judgement, accountability and ethical responsibility.

Watch video below:

Stop Calling Me ‘Bro’ or ‘Blood’ – 22-Year-Old Ondo Monarch Issues Warning To The Public

 

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Anu’s Mother Shares Alleged DNA Test Result Amid Partenity Dispute With Davido

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In a recent development, the ongoing controversy surrounding Ayo Labinjoh, the mother of Anu and Afrobeats superstar, Davido, over partenity dispute has intensified.

‎It’s worth noting that Ayo Labinjoh and Davido have been in the headlines over paternity dispute, with the singer claiming five DNA tests yielded negative results

In a fresh Instagram post, Ayo shared an existing DNA test result contradicting Davido’s earlier claim.

She emphasized that the DNA test result was valid, while investigative journalist, Kemi Olunloyo has fought vigorously for her daughter.

Her post reads,“The ONLY DNA 🧬 TEST Fake‼️ No swab, just bl00d 🩸 Not 2, Not 5.We still haven’t seen David post today online and in newspapers”.

Meanwhile, Davido has revealed that his father, Dr. Adedeji Adeleke, played a significant role amid his paternity dispute with Ayo Labinjoh.

In a recent tweet on X (formely Twitter), the ‘Feel’ crooner shared that his father insisted that he undergo DNA test.

“You guys don’t know my father..He’s even the one that forced me to go. Adeleke’s we don’t play about Blood on this side”, The tweet reads.

Meanwhile, Cubana Chief Priest’s alleged baby mama, Helen Atti, has weighed in on Davido’s paternity dispute.

She took to the singer’s comment section, writing, “Please just help her, you can still adopt her, it doesn’t mean anything. I know you love children a lot, not like Pascal Okechukwu, big belle for no reason”.

See below…..

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