News

NAFDAC Fears 20% Nigerians May Die From NCDs, Moves Against Solid Fats In Foods

Published

3 years ago

August 8, 2023

With Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, accounting for 74 per cent of all deaths worldwide, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has scale-up efforts towards the elimination of Trans Fatty Acid, TFAs, from food supplies in Nigeria.

Speaking at a briefing on the newly gazetted fats, oil and food-containing Fats, Oil Regulation 2022 and Pre-packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said that the Agency was collaborating with the Network for Health Equity and Development, NHED, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, GHAI, and GHAI.

She further lamented that more than 36 million people die annually from NCDs, adding that among these, cardiovascular diseases, CVDs, are the number one cause of death, accounting for 17.5 million deaths annually.

She said in Nigeria, NCDs are estimated to account for about a quarter of total death in the country.

“This means that the probability of dying between ages 30 and 70 years from NCDs is 20 per cent,” she disclosed.

Adeyeye stated that at the 2018 World Health Assembly in Geneva, the World Health Organisation, WHO, released an action package called REPLACE that includes policy recommendations and interventions for world leaders, adding that part of the recommendations was to ban the use of partially hydrogenated oils, that is the source of industrially produced TFAs, in all foods and to set limits on the amount of industrially produced TFAs, to not more than two per cent of the total fat content in all Foods.

Adeyeye said following WHO’s recommendation, NAFDAC with the cooperation, collaboration and support of the Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice and the Trans-Fat Coalition Partners has worked assiduously towards achieving the two prong pathways.

She said the Agency is currently working with the industry and partners to find alternative sources to the existing partially hydrogenated oils that are the source of industrially produced Trans-fats.

“The Agency has reviewed the Fats and Oil Regulation 2005 and now has a newly gazetted reviewed regulation known as Fats, Oil and Food Containing Fats and Oil Regulation 2022.

“This regulation has also addressed the second pathway for elimination of industrially TFAs with the limit of not more than two per cent (0.02ppm) of the total fats in fat, oil and food containing fats and oil products as recommended by WHO. In addition, the Pre-packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2005 has also been reviewed to take care of the labelling requirement for Trans-fats hence we now have a reviewed and gazetted Pre-Packaged Food Labelling Regulation 2022.”

Speaking, Executive Director, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said with the regulations in place, stakeholders will be able to combat some risk factors of NCDs, while applauding NAFDAC for its resilience and dedication to safeguarding the health of the Nation through partnerships.

On her part, the Nigeria Coordinator, GHAI, Joy Amafah said since the inception of the WHO REPLACE Action Framework, over 43 countries have passed relevant policies to set standards for TFA consumption in line with global best practices.

“Nigeria now stands as the first country in West Africa and the 2nd country in Africa after South Africa to set mandatory standards for TFA, maintaining their place as the giant of Africa and an example for others within the region to emulate.”

Amafah assured that GHAI will continue to partner with NAFDAC and relevant MDAs on their related food programmes towards achieving healthier food options and ultimately, curbing morbidities and mortalities caused by NCDs.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

13 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

18 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

19 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.