The Digest:
Church leaders under the Ecumenical Synods of Bishops have stated that churches lack the capacity to identify fake or adulterated anointing oil, calling on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control to intensify its regulatory oversight. This follows NAFDAC's recent bust of an illegal factory in Lagos producing counterfeit Goya oil, a product widely used in churches for prayer and anointing. The clerics commended NAFDAC's action, emphasizing that ensuring product safety is the responsibility of regulatory agencies, not congregations. NAFDAC has warned that Goya oil sold in plastic bottles is fake and unsafe.
Key Points:
- The use of adulterated oil poses direct health risks to congregants who consume or apply it during religious practices.
- The appeal shifts primary responsibility for product integrity from religious institutions to government regulators.
- The incident exposes significant vulnerabilities in the supply chain of a product considered sacred by many believers.
- The clerics' statement may encourage stricter scrutiny and reporting of suspicious products within religious communities.
- The case highlights the intersection of faith, commerce, and public health, requiring coordinated action.
This development underscores the need for enhanced vigilance and collaboration between regulatory bodies and faith-based organizations to protect public health.
Sources: Sunday PUNCH, NAFDAC
