The House of Representatives has stepped down a bill seeking to ban the production, importation, distribution, and sale of unbranded and unfortified edible oils in Nigeria after heated debate over its potential impact on public health, regulation, and rural livelihoods.
The bill, sponsored by Chike Okafor (Ehime/Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency, Imo State), was presented for second reading but deferred due to concerns about its provisions and the limited circulation of copies among lawmakers.
Okafor argued that the legislation was necessary to curb health risks, noting that 67% of Nigerians consume unbranded oils while only 31% of oils are fortified.
He cited World Health Organisation findings that food fortification is a cost-effective way to tackle micronutrient deficiencies.
The bill proposed penalties for offenders and a transition period for compliance, alongside collaboration with research institutes and private partners to improve oil processing.
Opposition came from lawmakers such as Paschal Agbodike (Ihiala, Anambra), who warned that the measure
