Tanker drivers have been cautioned by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control against using kerosene tankers to convey groundnut oil.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who gave the warning on Tuesday in Abuja, disclosed that the agency got information to that effect.
Adeyeye, spoke at the ongoing nationwide sensitisation campaign by the agency against substandard foods and drugs.
The NAFDAC boss was represented by NAFDAC’s Director of Chemical Evaluation and Research, Mrs Ngozi Onuorah.
According to her, using a kerosene tanker to carry groundnut oil for human consumption is harmful to public health.
“Using kerosene tankers to load groundnut oil after emptying it is dangerous to public health.
“People do it to make money at the expense of public health; they cut corners but NAFDAC is saying no to this.
“It is not permissible. If this is based on ignorance or it is an act of making money at the expense of Nigerians, it must stop.
“This is commonsensical: you don’t need a scientist to tell you that this is wrong.”
She said that petrol and kerosene had chemical components.
“You can’t be playing with an item that people consume. Even in our various homes, we cannot use the container for kerosene to fetch water to drink,” she said.
However, she called on Nigerians to be vigilant and report any driver indulging in the act to relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Adeyeye also warned market women against using Azo-dye to make palm oil more reddish.
She mentioned that these illegal and criminal practices can result in cancer, liver damage, kidney failure as well as damage to other organs of the body.
“We are drawing the attention of Nigerians so that they will be careful.
“When they see something that is too reddish, they must establish some level of suspicion,” Adeyeye said.