The House of Representatives on Wednesday stepped down a controversial bill seeking to ban the production, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils after lawmakers raised fears that it could destroy the livelihoods of thousands of local palm oil producers across the country.
The bill, sponsored by Hon. Chike Okafor (Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency, Imo State), was billed for second reading but was suspended following a heated debate over its likely impact on rural communities and existing food safety regulations.
Speaking during plenary, Okafor said the proposed legislation was aimed at protecting Nigerians from the health risks associated with consuming unbranded and unfortified edible oils.
He cited statistics showing that about 67 per cent of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oils, while only 31 per cent of edible oils in circulation are fortified.
Quoting the World Health Organisation (WHO), the lawmaker said food fortification remains one of the most effective and affordable ways of tackling micronutrient deficiencies and improving public health.
The bill seeks to prohibit the production, importation, distribution, sale and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible oils, while also encouraging partnerships to improve oil palm seedlings and establish modern processing mills across the country.
It also proposes penalties, including jail terms, for offenders after a transition period for producers to comply with the law.
However, the proposal met stiff opposition from several lawmakers, who warned that it could cripple local palm oil businesses and worsen poverty in rural communities.
Hon. Paschal Agbodike (Ihiala Federal Constituency, Anambra) urged the House to exercise caution, saying many of his constituents depend on traditional palm oil production for survival.
“This bill is not okay. Many of my people are into local palm oil production. We must be careful because their livelihoods are at stake,” he said.
Also opposing the bill, Hon. Gaza Gbefwi (Karu/Keffi/Kokona, Nasarawa) argued that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) already has the legal powers to regulate edible oils.
“We don’t need to over-legislate. If there are gaps in the law establishing NAFDAC, we should amend them instead of creating another law,” he said.
His position was backed by Hon. Wale Raji (Epe Federal Constituency, Lagos), who maintained that the proposed legislation duplicated the responsibilities of NAFDAC.
But Hon. Sada Soli (Jibia/Kaita, Katsina) defended the bill, insisting it was designed to strengthen, not replace, the existing regulatory framework and would not stop local palm oil production.
As the debate intensified, Hon. Billy Osawaru (Orhionmwon/Uhunmwonde, Edo) observed that many lawmakers had not received copies of the bill and therefore needed more time to study its provisions.
Following the concerns raised, the sponsor appealed to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the session, to step down the bill for wider consultations and improved understanding among members.
Kalu granted the request, suspending further debate until a later date.
