By Magoh Clara
Residents collecting spilled groundnut oil after a tanker overturned in Lagos have raised concerns about the possibility of contaminated cooking oil being resold to unsuspecting consumers.
The tanker, which was reportedly carrying 33,000 litres of groundnut oil, overturned near Ojota Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Wednesday, October 14, spilling its contents onto the road and disrupting traffic.
Videos of the incident showed residents arriving with containers and other receptacles to collect the spilled oil, despite uncertainty over its safety.
The development prompted the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to warn residents, traders and food vendors against collecting, consuming or selling the recovered oil.
According to the agency, the product could have been exposed to dirt, road pollutants and substances from nearby drainage channels during the incident.
Health Concerns Over Recovered Cooking Oil
Groundnut oil is widely used in Nigerian households and food businesses, making the possibility of contaminated oil entering the food supply a public health concern.
Oil recovered from a road accident scene may contain contaminants that cannot be detected through its appearance alone. If used to prepare food, the potential health risks would depend on the substances present and the level of contamination.
Depending on the type and amount of contaminant, exposure could cause adverse health effects. However, no specific contaminant or illness linked to the spilled oil had been confirmed at the time of reporting.
Another concern is that the recovered oil could be transferred into containers and sold in markets, making it difficult for consumers to identify its source or determine whether it is safe for consumption.
If this happens, unsuspecting buyers could purchase and consume oil that has been exposed to road surfaces, dirt or drainage water.
LASTMA General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, warned members of the public against taking the recovered oil home or selling it to unsuspecting buyers.
The agency also deployed rescue and recovery teams to the scene to assist in clearing the overturned tanker and restoring traffic movement.
While the incident disrupted movement along the busy road, the collection of the spilled commodity has drawn attention to the risks associated with salvaging food products exposed to potentially contaminated environments.
Authorities have urged residents to avoid the recovered oil to reduce the risk of exposing themselves and other consumers to potential health hazards.
