NIGERIA: NAFDAC Launches Roadmap to Eliminate Trans-Fatty Acids in Nigeria

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

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

The initiative, launched in Abuja, reaffirms Nigeria’s commitment to protecting public health by addressing one of the major dietary risks associated with heart disease, stroke, and premature death.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the roadmap reflects Nigeria’s determination to ensure a safer food environment.

She noted that the country has already taken bold regulatory steps, including setting a limit of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.

Prof. Adeyeye stated: “In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognised Nigeria as one of only seven countries globally to have adopted best-practice TFA elimination policies.”

The newly launched roadmap, she explained, adopts a phased implementation plan that focuses on reformulating food products, strengthening laboratory testing capacity, monitoring industry compliance, and enhancing public awareness.

With the support of partners such as Resolve to Save Lives, the WHO, and other stakeholders, NAFDAC has also expanded its laboratory facilities to test for TFAs — a step Prof. Adeyeye described as “a major milestone toward full regulatory enforcement.”

She called for collaboration among government agencies, industry players, civil society organizations, and consumers to ensure the success of the initiative.

She emphasized: “Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, and urgent. With this roadmap, Nigeria is determined to protect the health of its citizens and secure a food supply free from the dangers of trans-fatty acids.”