The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has released a comprehensive seven-year performance review, outlining key reforms in Nigeria’s food and drug regulatory system, alongside the signing of a continental medicines cooperation framework.
The Director-General of the agency, Mojisola Adeyeye, presented the report at an event in Abuja themed “Safeguarding the Nation’s Health, Empowering Progress,” which also aligned with the Federal Government’s healthcare reform agenda.
She explained that the review captured the agency’s progress since 2017, particularly in strengthening regulatory oversight and improving product safety standards.
At the same event, Nigeria formalised a partnership with the African Medicines Agency aimed at improving coordination across the continent and reducing the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medical products.
Adeyeye described the collaboration as a major step toward building a stronger continental regulatory system, noting that it would enhance joint efforts to combat unsafe medicines and improve access to quality healthcare products in Africa.
She urged the public to purchase medicines only from accredited pharmacies, stressing the importance of receipts and proper verification of drug sources. She warned against patronising unregistered vendors, adding that enforcement actions would be intensified against illegal outlets.
According to her, manufacturers are already adjusting to stricter compliance requirements, with risk classifications showing gradual improvements across the sector as high-risk operators move toward medium and low-risk categories.
She also emphasised that tackling fake and substandard drugs requires public cooperation, advising consumers to verify product registration with the regulatory agency and report suspected cases for investigation.
On the new continental agreement, she noted that it would enable African countries with limited manufacturing capacity to source medicines through certified production hubs within the continent, promoting shared standards aligned with global best practices.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the African Medicines Agency, Dr. Mimi Darko, said Nigeria’s participation would strengthen regulatory cooperation across Africa and improve overall health governance under the African Union framework.
She added that the partnership is expected to enhance efficiency, deepen collaboration, and support the achievement of shared public health goals across member states.