Bishops to NAFDAC: Churches can’t detect fake anointing oil

The Ecumenical Synods of Bishops, Archbishops, Apostles and Senior Clergy has said churches lack the capacity to identify fake or adulterated anointing oil, calling on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to strengthen its regulatory oversight.

The clerics made the call following NAFDAC’s recent discovery of an illegal Goya oil production facility in Lagos.

Goya oil is commonly used in churches as anointing oil for prayers, healing and spiritual protection, and is also consumed as a premium cooking oil and used as a skin moisturiser.

The International Secretary of the organisation, Osazee William, praised NAFDAC for uncovering the illegal operation, describing the action as timely.

“God bless NAFDAC officials for such a wonderful discovery. This shows the agency is rising to the occasion,” he said.

William noted that many churches rely on Goya oil for prayers, explaining that once prayers are said over it, it becomes anointing oil.

He stressed, however, that churches cannot be expected to verify the authenticity of products brought by worshippers.

“It is not possible for churches to be checking whether oil brought to church is fake. God can even use water to anoint a person, not only oil,” he said, adding that ensuring product safety rests with regulatory authorities.

NAFDAC had on Friday warned Nigerians against using Goya oil sold in plastic (PET) bottles, describing such products as fake and unsafe. The warning was issued during a media briefing at the agency’s Investigation and Enforcement Directorate in Lagos.

Director of Investigation and Enforcement, Dr Martins Iluyomade, said Goya oil packaged in plastic bottles was not licensed by NAFDAC.

“Goya oil sold in plastic bottles is fake. The only approved product is imported in original bottles by authorised dealers,” he said.

Iluyomade disclosed that the agency uncovered a large illegal factory at Oke-Arin Market in Idumota, Lagos, where burnt palm oil was mixed with colouring agents and repackaged as Goya oil.

“We recovered palm oil, colouring agents, stoves and empty bottles at the site,” he said.

He warned that many Nigerians were unknowingly using the harmful product and urged religious organisations to stop selling PET-bottled Goya oil during worship and other gatherings.

The NAFDAC director said offenders would be prosecuted and appealed to the public to report suspected counterfeit products to the nearest NAFDAC office.

Iluyomade also revealed that a suspect, Moses Nelson, was arrested in connection with the distribution of adulterated and counterfeit alcoholic drinks, with empty exotic bottles, sachets and PET-bottled alcohol recovered from his residence in Badagry, Lagos State.

He cautioned counterfeiters to desist, assuring that NAFDAC would continue to clamp down on activities that endanger public health for profit.