Indomie Noodles ban in Nigeria sparks controversy

By Zion Rufus

Nigerians have expressed their shock and confusion following the recent announcement by the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration (NAFDAC) that importation of Indomie noodles have been banned in Nigeria.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated in a press release that Indomie noodles is one of the foods on the government prohibition list and has been banned from being imported into the country for many years. She added that the product is not registered by NAFDAC and therefore not allowed in Nigeria.

The body also cited health concerns and precautionary measures, adding that the move was aimed at preventing the consumption of Indomie following a recent discovery of cancer-causing substances in the chicken flavour of the brand by health authorities in Malaysia and Taiwan.

However, noodles lovers have taken to social media to express their views on the situation. Many questioned why a product that is produced locally and has been widely accepted by Nigerians is being banned, others believe the announcement may have been made to favor competitors as controversies trail the logic behind announcing a ban on importation of a product that is locally produced.

Instagram user @shalewacollections wrote: “I think @Nafdac should clear the air and clearly state their reasons for doing this. It is only going to cause more confusion among local people who don’t know that the Indomie we eat is not imported. Iya Sikira will be telling Mama Chizoba that they said “Indomie kills people”. This is not a wise move.”

The ban has also raised questions about the country’s food safety standards and regulatory agencies’ effectiveness. Some Nigerians have expressed skepticism about the government’s ability to enforce food safety regulations and called for more transparency and accountability in the regulatory process.

Reacting to the news, a Twitter user, @mideafolabi said, “How can Indomie be banned in Nigeria when it is produced in Nigeria? This is just ridiculous!” Another user, @ifeabunike, said, “This is very confusing. I have been eating Indomie for years, and it is very popular in Nigeria. Why ban a product that is already widely accepted?”

Indomie is produced by Dufil Prima Foods Plc, a Nigerian company that has been manufacturing the noodles in the country since 1995. The company has assured Nigerians that the noodles produced locally are safe for consumption and that they conduct independent market research to ensure the product’s safety.

Temitope Ashiwaju, the Group Corporate Communications and Event Manager for Dufil Prima, stated that Indomie noodles consumed in Nigeria are not imported and that the company works closely with NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies to ensure that the product meets safety standards. He also noted that the recent news about the product’s ban in Taiwan and Malaysia is raising doubts among Nigerian consumers, and the company will work with regulatory agencies to clear those doubts.

Meanwhile, other Nigerians have called on the government to provide more clarity on the ban and its reasons. They argued that the lack of information on the ban on importation could lead to confusion and panic among consumers and expressed concern about the safety of the product, urging regulatory agencies to conduct more thorough checks to ensure that it meets safety standards.

Lead photo credit: Zikoko