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Trans-Fat: How lack of information is hindering data gathering
By Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello
Trans-fat is a silent killer and major cause of cardiovascular illnesses in Nigeria. Illnesses associated with transfats are majorly acquired through foods that are consumed by people on daily basis. The higher the amount of trans-fatty food consumption, the higher the chances of coming down with cardiovascular illnesses.
In Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a pan-African organization in collaboration with partners have been at the forefront of advocacy for healthy living and advocacy for the gazette of the Fats and Oils Regulations 2022. The regulations will guarantee the safety of the kind of oils that are produced for the consumption of the Nigerian public.
As part of the transfats campaign, the Trans-fat free Nigeria Coalition led by the Network for Health Equity & Development (NHED) recently put together a one-day supplementary information-gathering workshop, a mapping exercise of Partially Hydrogenated Oils (PHO) in Nigeria. The engagement which began in late 2021 concluded that there is difficulty in getting Nigerians to give out information on trans-fats.
Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, Technical Adviser for the Trans-fat free Nigeria campaign at NHED, stated the reasons why local, regional and multinational players are not completely moved to non-PHO,
“Big capital investments are needed to combine fractionation with interesterification. Requires the move from a liquid oil supply chain to an additional (semi-solid) palm oil-based supply chain. Knowledge to build and use factories may be lacking. The ability to use the cheapest and local oils can give PHO a cost advantage. Local regulations do not yet make non-PHO compulsory.”
He called on industry players to remove Trans-fat from indigenous foods, insisting that “there has been too much unnecessary loss of lives in Nigeria recently. We should not add to this list something so readily preventable. The Big Companies have removed TFAs from their products. Now is the turn of the MSMEs,”
Explaining the preliminary findings on PHO mapping in Nigeria, Coordinator of Research Matrix Limited, Benson Olubodun, highlighted some difficulties by industry players, “for the local manufacturing and production of PHO we identify six probable manufacturers, however, due to insufficient disclosure of information, the information gathered so far was incomplete/inconclusive to determine the exact number of local PHO manufacturers or producers.
“For importers, we draw a list of importers of hydrogenated oil was sourced from NAFDAC, but the list did not make the distinction between partially or fully hydrogenated oils, however, the inability to conduct interviews with importers or those knowledgeable on PHO importing prevents us from making any conclusive statement or acquire an accurate knowledge on the PHO market in Nigeria and how much imports contribute to the supply of PHO in Nigeria.”
He concluded by advising on the next steps to take, “As gleaned from desk research, a report on the global PHO market by Persistence Market Research posits that Nigeria’s market for PHO is estimated to be the biggest in Africa, with an estimated market volume of 229,000MT in 2017 (roughly 8.5% of Africa’s total PHO market volume). The estimated market volume does not include company-specific production volume presumed by the industry experts since this information could not be independently/objectively confirmed.”
“More recent data could not be obtained and the dearth of information from the industry leads to an inconclusive assessment of the current PHO market size and its growth trends,” he concluded.
The workshop was attended by industry players and members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
Featured
Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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