The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association of Nigeria (MASEON), the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), and the Association of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria under the National Union of Edible Oil Tanker Drivers of Nigeria (ETD/NUEOTDN) to strengthen edible oil transportation safety, hygiene, and compliance standards in Lagos State.
The General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, stated that the agreement establishes a collaborative framework aimed at protecting consumers from contaminated, adulterated, and unsafe edible oil products resulting from poor transportation practices and tanker misuse.
According to him, the partnership became necessary following reports that some tankers used for transporting edible oils were also being deployed for petroleum products, diesel, and other hazardous substances, thereby exposing consumers to serious health and safety risks through cross-contamination and chemical residue retention.
Under the terms of the MoU, all parties agreed to enforce strict hygiene, operational, and traceability standards across the edible oil transportation value chain within Lagos State.
The key objectives of the agreement include ensuring that tankers designated for edible oil transportation are used exclusively for that purpose; preventing the use of edible oil tankers for petroleum products and hazardous substances; strengthening tanker registration, identification, and traceability systems; enhancing consumer protection against contaminated edible oils; promoting industry compliance and public safety; and establishing a Joint Enforcement and Compliance Committee for coordinated monitoring and enforcement activities.
As part of its statutory responsibilities under the Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency Law, 2025, LASCOPA will conduct inspections, compliance monitoring, scientific sampling, and laboratory testing of edible oils where necessary.
The Agency will also continue to investigate consumer complaints, coordinate public awareness programmes, and enforce consumer protection laws against violators.
The National President, Marketers and Sellers of Edible Oil Association (MASEON), Labaran Sidi; The President, Association of Edible Oil Tankers Drivers of Nigeria (ETD/NUEOTDN), Ilias Aperun; The State Chairman, National Association of Road Transportation Owners (NARTO), Kayode Odunowo, represented by the Deputy State Chairman, Ayinla Kamaldeen also committed to ensuring that only dedicated food-grade certified tankers are used for edible oil transportation while maintaining proper documentation and operational compliance among members.
The MoU further provides for periodic inspections, random spot checks, stakeholders’ training programmes, consumer education campaigns, and joint enforcement operations within the limits of the law.
LASCOPA reiterated that consumer safety remains a top priority of the Lagos State Government and warned that violators engaging in unsafe transportation practices or tanker misuse would face sanctions and prosecution in accordance with the law.
