Abuja: The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has presented the agency’s comprehensive seven-year scorecard, showcasing significant reforms in the regulation of food and drugs. In a strategic move to enhance regulatory frameworks and combat the circulation of substandard and falsified products across Africa, Adeyeye also announced Nigeria’s signing of a treaty with the African Medicines Agency (AMA).
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Safeguarding the Nation’s Health, Empowering Progress,’ underscored the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda focusing on healthcare transformation and pharmaceutical sovereignty. Adeyeye elaborated that the gathering aimed to highlight NAFDAC’s progress since November 2017, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to improving regulatory standards.
She stated, “The overall crown of the event is the joining of force with AMA to further strengthen the system to curb the movement of substandard and falsified food and drugs within the Africa sub-region.” Adeyeye also advised Nigerians to purchase medicines only from approved sources and to remain vigilant against unauthorized drug vendors.
To ensure compliance, she noted, “In terms of change, the manufacturers are already changing. We have low risk, medium risk, high risk. The high risk are becoming medium risk. The medium risk is becoming low risk, and the health of our people will be better for it.” She stressed the importance of public cooperation in the gradual reform process.
Highlighting the significance of the treaty with AMA, Adeyeye noted that it would foster collaboration across African nations. “If a country doesn’t have manufacturing facility, they can come to another country that has manufacturing facility to buy or do contract manufacturing,” she explained, emphasizing the move towards harmonizing standards across the continent.
Dr. Mimi Darko, Director-General of AMA, also commented on the partnership, noting that Nigeria’s participation would enhance the agency’s administrative capabilities and help achieve its objectives. “With Nigeria joining strength with AMA, we believe we will witness better administration, we will achieve our goals. Nigeria is a strong ally in the Africa continent,” Darko affirmed.