Ilorin, June 8, 2026 – The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has commenced a pharmacovigilance assessment of healthcare facilities across Kwara State as part of efforts to strengthen medicine safety monitoring in the country.
This was disclosed on Monday in Ilorin by the State Coordinator of NAFDAC, Mrs. Mariam Issa-Onilu, during a courtesy visit to the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health.
Pharmacovigilance refers to the processes involved in detecting, assessing, understanding, and preventing adverse effects or other problems associated with medicines and vaccines.
Issa-Onilu explained that the agency is committed to strengthening pharmacovigilance systems within the healthcare sector in line with Nigeria’s National Pharmacovigilance Policy and Implementation Framework (2020).
She noted that the assessment would examine the structure and effectiveness of Pharmacovigilance Committees, reporting mechanisms for Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs), risk management systems, signal detection processes, and collaboration between PVC units and relevant stakeholders.
According to her, the exercise is aimed at improving compliance and ensuring a more coordinated approach to medicine safety across health facilities.
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Ministry of Health, Dr. Taoheed Abdullahi, commended NAFDAC for its continued efforts in protecting public health through regulatory oversight and safety initiatives.
He stressed the importance of strengthening Pharmacovigilance Committees in health institutions to enhance early detection and reporting of drug-related issues.
Abdullahi also urged the agency to increase public awareness on pharmacovigilance through media campaigns, stakeholder engagement, community outreach, and the distribution of educational materials such as flyers and posters.
He further assured the agency of the ministry’s full support and pledged collaboration to promote public understanding of medicine safety and encourage reporting of adverse drug reactions through health communication platforms.
The initiative is expected to improve drug safety monitoring, enhance coordination among healthcare facilities, and strengthen public confidence in the healthcare system.