By Juliet Umeh
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, has urged community, religious, and traditional leaders to take frontline roles in the campaign against unbranded and unfortified edible oils, warning that such products pose a continuing threat to public health and Nigeria’s nutrition agenda.
The call was made at a Lagos town hall meeting supported by eHealth Africa and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition, GAIN. Stakeholders emphasized that while regulatory enforcement is necessary, sustainable change depends on grassroots mobilization.
According to Lagos State Nutrition Officer, Mrs. Taiwo Fadairo, represented by Mojibolanle Belo, malnutrition indicators in the state remain alarming. “About 49.5 percent of women of reproductive age are anemic, while stunting among children under five has climbed from 8.9 percent in 2011 to 39.4 percent in 2022. Investing in nutrition is crucial for improving the status of vulnerable groups and combating malnutrition,” she said.
Community leaders present pledged to spread the message within their networks. Mr. Lawal Bolanle Jamiu of Ajeromi-Ifelodun explained: “Any programme I attend like this one, I usually go back and relay it to the Community Development Council. That is how the message spreads.”
For Alhaja Musiliat Olaseni, a CDA chairperson in Agege, the issue is personal: “Some of these oils smell terrible when you put them in the frying pan. Others look adulterated. With what I’ve heard today, I will make sure people are aware of the dangers. It is only God that has been protecting us.”
Religious leaders also lent their voice. Bishop Godstime Ikumapayi of the Christian Association of Nigeria said: “To eat unbranded oil is terrible. It may look cheap, but the health costs are much higher. My role is to tell the people in churches that it is not good to indulge in it. If one is not informed, the person will be deformed.”
Traditional ruler, Chief Joseph Omobolanle Ogunmola, Baale of Marine Beach, Apapa, echoed the urgency: “When I get home, I will call my people together and tell them that branded oil is what they should be buying because of its quality and fortification. May we not die untimely.”
Consumer advocates raised similar concerns. Oghenerukevwe Winifred of the Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation, CADEF, warned: “Most times, when you go to the market, you see unbranded oils congealed. This is a call for everyone to shine their eyes and be very aware of what they buy.”
CS-SUNN concluded that Nigeria’s efforts to phase out unbranded oils will only succeed if government enforcement is matched by community influencers spreading awareness at the grassroots.
