The House of Representatives on Wednesday suspended further consideration of a bill seeking to ban the production, importation, distribution, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils in Nigeria after lawmakers expressed concerns over its possible consequences for public health regulation, rural livelihoods and existing legal frameworks.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, Chike Okafor, was presented for second reading during plenary but was stepped down following extensive debate and complaints that many members had not received copies of the bill.
Opening the debate, Okafor explained that the legislation was introduced to tackle the growing health risks associated with the widespread use of unbranded and unfortified cooking oils across the country.
He stated that available data showed that about 67 per cent of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oils, while only 31 per cent of edible oils available in the Nigerian market are fortified.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), the lawmaker noted that food fortification remains “a proven, cost-effective strategy to address micronutrient deficiencies and improve public health.”
According to him, “the bill prohibits the production, importation, distribution and sale of unfortified and unbranded edible oils, while also mandating collaboration among research institutes, universities and state ministries to improve seedlings and establish cooking oil processing mills through public-private partnerships.”
Okafor explained that the bill also prescribes sanctions, including prison terms for violators, while providing a transition period to enable existing producers and businesses to comply with the proposed regulations.
“This is a matter of life and death. It is a call to protect the health of Nigerians,” he said.
Despite the public health objective of the bill, several lawmakers opposed its passage, warning that it could negatively affect thousands of local producers, particularly rural communities where palm oil production remains a major economic activity.
The member representing Ihiala Federal Constituency of Anambra State, Paschal Agbodike, cautioned against passing legislation that could undermine the livelihoods of local producers.
“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.
Similarly, 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 possesses sufficient legal authority to regulate edible oils and related 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.
Supporting that position, the member representing Epe Federal Constituency of Lagos State, Wale Raji, warned against creating unnecessary legislation where existing laws already cover the subject matter.
According to him, “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.”
However, the member representing Jibia/Kaita Federal Constituency of Katsina State, Sada Soli, defended the proposed legislation, insisting it was intended to strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing regulatory mechanisms.
“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 deliberations continued, the member representing Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde Federal Constituency of Edo State, Billy Osawaru, pointed out that many lawmakers had not received copies of the proposed bill, making it difficult for them to fully understand its provisions before debating it.
He maintained that meaningful legislative debate requires members to study the contents of a bill before taking a position.
Following the observations, Okafor appealed to the Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the sitting, to step down the bill to allow wider circulation of copies and further consultations with stakeholders on issues raised during the debate.
The Deputy Speaker subsequently granted the request, postponing further legislative consideration of the proposed law.
The bill comes amid increasing concerns about food safety and nutrition in Nigeria. Public health experts have consistently advocated the fortification of staple food products, including edible oils, with nutrients such as vitamin A to reduce micronutrient deficiencies, particularly among children and pregnant women.
Nigeria currently operates mandatory food fortification programmes for selected food products, while NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) are responsible for enforcing food quality and safety standards.
However, the continued availability of unbranded and informally processed edible oils in open markets has fuelled debate over whether stronger legislation or stricter enforcement of existing regulations is the better approach to protecting public health.
