Monday February 14, 2022, the world celebrated Saint Valentine, who died loving mankind. In Lagos State, the event was unique, as the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), volunteer groups and journalists showed love by sensitising Lagosians on the dangers of trans-fat consumption – Just to save lives.
The groups’ carnival-like procession (walk) began at the Allen Roundabout and ended at Ikeja Roundabout.
Putting on their white T-shirts, with the inscription, “Trans Fat-Free Nigeria,” they danced and distributed flyers along the busy Awolowo road Ikeja.
Some of the flyers read: “Good health is wealth; healthy diet is key to life’s navigation. No to dangerous oil. Government keep us safe and do the needful. No to Trans-fatty foods.”
The CAPPA boss, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, told Nigeria News Flight that the Valentine Day was chosen for the sensitization because many people would consumme too much unhealthy food, while celebrating the day.
Akinbode, who said that he believed in keeping a healthy society, lamented that many Nigerians still eat “dangerous” foods that cause cancer and other health issues.
While urging Nigerians to avoid fried food, the CAPPA boss disclosed that his organization and some government agencies had been collaborating to ensure a healthy living for Nigerians.
Akinbode also said that Nigeria was lagging, as regulations needed to actualise the 2023 deadline on trans-fat were yet to be passed and gazetted.
Besides, he said that the general public’s level of awareness on TFA was still inadequate, urging the Federal Ministry of Health to urgently take action on the TFA regulations.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health in Nigeria now has in its possession, the ‘Fats and Oils Regulations, 2020’ and the ‘Pre-packaged Food, Water and ICe Labeling Regulation 2020’ as transmitted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control for review and onward and further action by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
The regulations are in line with the REPLACE package of the World Health Organization to eliminate trans-fat from the global food supply by 2023.
Source: Nigeria News Flight
