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.
