Lagos Agency Sounds Alarm As Adulterated Palm Oil Flood Markets

By Sherif Salau

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency (LASCOPA) has issued a fresh warning to residents about the growing sophistication of palm oil contamination, urging high warning when buying the product that many household uses for their meals. In the busy markets of Lagos, where palm oil remains a daily and an essential item for countless households, a quiet but serious threat is circulating among the cubicles.

Following a technical presentation at the Lagos State Food Safety Conference and Exhibition 2026 by Dr Nurah Oseni of Auchi Polytechnic, the agency highlighted methods now being used to disguise substandard product. These include the addition of potentially carcinogenic Sudan and Azo dyes to intensify the red hue many buyers still associate with quality, the blending of genuine palm oil with reclaimed or used up cooking oils, and the use of multi-additive mixtures designed to avoid basic visual and home review.

The aftermath continues beyond poor quality. The substances involved can contribute to digestive disorders, food-borne illness, and longer-term risks to the liver and overall health. Because palm oil appears so frequently in daily cooking, the potential for repeated exposure reaches into ordinary households across the city.

LASCOPA General Manager and Chief Executive Officer Afolabi Solebo has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to protecting consumers. He called on Lagosians to “shine their eyes” and remain vigilant, while promising strengthened market monitoring across the state. Residents who encounter suspicious products or deceitful traders are encouraged to report them through the agency’s official avenues.

For families who rely on open markets, the practical response is careful attention. Choosing vendors who have earned trust, examining colour, smell and consistency with greater care, and supporting clearer systems of product traceability all reduce risk. Official surveillance is being intensified, and residents are encouraged to report suspicious products through the agency’s established channels. Yet the first line of protection remains with those who purchase and prepare food.

In a city where meals are both necessity and shared practice, the integrity of what enters the pot carries quiet weight. Staying watchful is not an act of warning but of ordinary responsibility—one that helps ensure the tables of Lagos remain both nourishing and safe.