The Federal Government has expressed its commitment towards a trans-fat free Nigeria by speeding up the gazette of the trans-fat regulations.
The Minister of State for Health Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora disclosed this in Abuja during an advocacy visit by the #Transfatfree Nigeria coalition.
According to a statement by the coalition, the minister said that the ministry looks forward to collaborating with the campaign on implementation and enforcement of trans fatty acids (TFA) regulation and capacity-building for the National Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) towards improved testing.
Mamora who committed to following up on the draft regulation said, “it’s not just finding out the cause of the delay in the passage of the TFA regulation but to move it forward. This is about the health of all Nigerians.
Additionally, he stressed the need to have preventive measures given the number of oils sold in the open market so as not to place additional burden to an already stretched health sector.
The Fats and Oil Regulations 2019 when passed into law will limit trans-fat to 2g per 100g of total fat in all fats, oils, and foods.
Mamora while appreciating the efforts and work of the #Transfatfree Nigeria campaign, urged the campaign not to restrict their work to the National level but to consider looking into our local foods that may be unhealthy.
While giving an overview of the #TransfatfreeNigeria campaign thus far, the project advisor for TFA Elimination, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Dr Jerome Mafeni said the campaign has been engaging with NAFDAC but the finalisation and gazetting of the regulations have experienced significant delays.
Dr Mafeni requested the intervention of the minister towards expediting the passage of the regulations.
The Country Head, Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Dr Emmanuel Sokpo similarly expressed concern around the morbidities associated with cardiovascular diseases from the covid-19 infections pandemic.
Earlier, the Nigeria In-Country Coordinator Cardiovascular Health Program, Global Health Advocacy Incubator Joy Amafah, highlighted that countries that started the process after Nigeria have passed their regulations into law.
Amafah said, “this process started in 2019 and the campaign is advocating the minister to use his good office to advance the quick finalisation of the regulations, adding that there may be other stakeholders who are looking forward to engaging and investing in Nigeria on post-gazetting activities but have put a pause on their plans given the delays in finalising the regulation and passing it into law.”
The Nutrition Policy Advisor Resolve to Save Lives, Nigeria (RTSL) Dr Maryam Al-Mansur expressed the need to address the issues of trans fatty acids in Nigeria to reduce comorbidities of cardiovascular diseases caused by covid. She highlighted other countries such as China, India, Philippines have passed the regulations into law.
The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Akinbode Oluwafemi expressed the readiness of the coalition to collaborate with NAFDAC and the Ministry for effective implementation of the regulations when passed.
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