“I am excited to be part of the ‘Branded Oil for Better Health in Nigeria’ campaign, which promotes large-scale food fortification and the phasing out of unfortified oil in Nigeria,” declared key stakeholders as they signed their commitment to become a part of Nigeria’s fortification goal during the launch of the TPAC Project in Abuja.
In a bold step towards ending hidden hunger and improving nutrition outcomes, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with CS-SUNN and E-Health Africa, with strategic support from GAIN has officially launched the Third-Party Advocacy Campaign (TPAC) project—a strategic initiative to phase out unbranded edible bulk edible oils and strengthen workforce nutrition across Nigeria.
Unveiled during a two-day stakeholders’ consensus-building meeting convened in Abuja recently this April, T-PAC was introduced as a catalytic response to Nigeria’s growing malnutrition burden; particularly the health risks associated with the rampant circulation and consumption of unbranded and unfortified edible bulk oils in the country. Drawing participation from government officials, development partners, civil society, media, state nutrition officers, and public health experts, the two-day event served as both a springboard and a strategic platform to foster alignment and action on Nigeria’s food fortification goal.
Cross Section of Participants during the T-PAC Launch
The situation is further worsened by poor dietary diversity among working-class populations and limited corporate investment in employee nutrition, which collectively impact national economic outcomes.
The T-PAC project responds to these challenges by advocating for:
- The phasing out of unbranded, unfortified bulk oils from Nigerian markets.
- The integration of workforce nutrition policies within both public and private sector organizations to foster healthier, more productive citizens.
With a strong emphasis on policy advocacy, public awareness campaigns, and multi-stakeholder engagement, the T-PAC project is strategically designed to support Federal Government’s renewed commitment to Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF), a critical pillar to the nation’s nutrition strategy, as reaffirmed at the recent 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris.
Nigeria continues to grapple with the burden of micronutrient deficiencies, which silently erode the health, productivity, and cognitive development of millions—particularly women and children. A major contributory factor to this crisis is the widespread availability and consumption of unbranded, unfortified bulk edible oils sold in open markets across Nigeria. These oils are often adulterated and lack essential vitamins such as Vitamin A, contributing significantly to poor nutrition and preventable diseases.
Data from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare during the launch paints a grim picture:
- 67% of Nigerians consume unbranded edible oil.
- Only 31% of edible oils in circulation are fortified.
- While over 90% of salt is reportedly fortified, goitre and other iodine deficiency disorders persist.
- Pilot fortification efforts with rice in Kebbi State show promising results, indicating a pathway for scale-up.
These gaps highlight the urgent need for policy reforms, public awareness, and multi-stakeholder advocacy to reverse these negative nutritional indices.
At the stakeholders meeting, the Director of Nutrition at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ladi Bako-Aiyegbusi (mni), warmly welcomed stakeholders, describing the campaign as a strategic and timely intervention to reposition food fortification as a national priority in Nigeria. She recognized the presence and contributions of key actors, including the Permanent Secretary of Abia State, State Nutrition Officers from Lagos, Abia, and Kano States, as well as CS-SUNN, affirming the critical role of sub-national actors in advancing nutrition.
Of particular significance was her announcement that the Federal Government has made a firm commitment—articulated at the 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris—to ensure that all future nutrition policies prioritize food fortification. In a compelling call to action, the Director posed a bold challenge to stakeholders: “Can we reduce the consumption of unbranded, unfortified oils from 67% to zero within the next four years?”, she asked.
Adetola Otunla, LSFF Project Coordinator at GAIN, emphasized that food fortification remains a cornerstone of GAIN’s mission. Representing the Country Director, she expressed confidence in the project’s potential to drive long-term impact through shared partnerships.
Representative of Helen Keller International expressed strong commitment to improving Nigeria’s nutrition landscape and pledged support toward the T-PAC project.
Director of Nutrition at the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) Dr. Sam Obasi highlighted current data on malnutrition and called for a united front in promoting fortified foods as a cost-effective and scalable solution. The Director stressed that vitamin A supplementation alone cannot substitute for a food-based approach like fortification.
Lady Magdalene Onwu, A Permanent Secretary from Abia State, spoke about the need to identify root causes of malnutrition and validate the quality of marketed fortified products. She reaffirmed the state’s readiness to align with national policies that promote fortified oil consumption.
The Media, represented by the President of the Association of Nigerian Health Journalists, pledged full support in amplifying advocacy efforts and holding stakeholders accountable for results.
Representing the Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN, Ridwan Awosanya, Programme Manager, highlighted CS-SUNN’s key role in Nigeria’s nutrition advocacy landscape over the past decade. He reiterated the alliance’s three-pronged approach through TPAC:
- Advocating for a revised national LSFF policy.
- Building consensus to phase out unbranded, unfortified oils.
- Leading multi-channel public awareness campaigns to drive consumer demand and policy enforcement.
As Nigeria positions itself to fulfill its commitments from the Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in Paris, TPAC stands out as a practical and timely response. The campaign’s alignment with government’s fortification agenda reinforces its potential for national scale-up and sustainability.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to develop a clear roadmap for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation—ensuring that TPAC moves from vision to tangible and sustainable impact.
Watch and read media reports on the T-PAC Launch from leading TV stations and newspapers!
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/04/fg-moves-to-stop-consumption-of-unbranded-oil
