The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has warned residents against buying or consuming groundnut oil spilled onto roads following incidents involving vehicles transporting the product.
The warning comes amid concerns that oil recovered from road surfaces may have been exposed to dirt, dust, debris and other potentially harmful contaminants, making it unsafe for human consumption.
According to the warning, members of the public should avoid collecting, purchasing or using groundnut oil that has spilled onto roads, particularly when the product has been exposed to uncontrolled environmental conditions.
Groundnut oil is widely used in Nigerian households for cooking and food preparation. However, when it spills onto a road, the product may come into contact with substances that are not suitable for food consumption. These may include soil, particles from vehicle tyres, road dust, fuel residues and other contaminants present on the surface.
Even when spilled oil appears clean, its appearance alone cannot establish that it is safe to consume. Contamination may not always be visible, and collecting the product from a road does not provide any assurance of its quality or safety.
Consuming contaminated food products can expose people to health risks, depending on the substances involved and the level of contamination. The safest course of action is therefore to avoid consuming groundnut oil recovered from road spillages.
The warning also highlights the risks associated with collecting goods from accident scenes. While some people may see spilled products as an opportunity to obtain food items at little or no cost, doing so can expose them to potentially unsafe substances and create additional hazards around the incident location.
Members of the public are advised to keep away from spilled products and allow emergency responders, relevant authorities and properly equipped personnel to manage the scene. Road users should also exercise caution around spillages to avoid accidents and prevent further traffic disruption.
Transporters and distributors of food products have a responsibility to ensure that goods are handled, secured and transported appropriately. Where a spillage occurs, the affected products should be assessed and managed in accordance with applicable food-safety requirements rather than returned to circulation without proper verification.
LASTMA’s warning serves as a reminder that food safety should take priority over the perceived value of recovered goods. Consumers are encouraged to purchase cooking oil from reputable sources and avoid products whose handling, storage or contamination status cannot be established.
The public is urged to take the warning seriously and refrain from buying or consuming groundnut oil spilled onto roads, helping to protect household health and prevent avoidable food-safety risks.
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