The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has presented its seven-year performance scorecard.
This highlights reforms in food and drug regulation, while also formalising Nigeria’s participation in a continental medicines treaty.
Mojisola Adeyeye, director-general of NAFDAC disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja at an event showcasing the agency’s progress since 2017.
According to her, the treaty with the African Medicines Agency is aimed at strengthening regulatory systems and tackling the circulation of substandard and falsified products across the continent.
“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,” she said.
Adeyeye noted that compliance within the pharmaceutical sector has improved over the years, with risk levels among manufacturers gradually declining.
“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 said.
She urged Nigerians to patronise only registered outlets and avoid unapproved drug vendors.
“Buy medicines from pharmacy. Get your receipts… Don’t deal with companies that are not registered with NAFDAC,” she warned.
Adeyeye added that the partnership would enable African countries to collaborate more effectively in drug manufacturing and regulation.
“If a country doesn’t have manufacturing facility, they can come to another country that has manufacturing facility… We are working together as a continent to harmonise and ensure African standard… but international standard,” she said.
Also speaking, Mimi Darko, director-general of AMA described Nigeria’s participation as a major boost to the agency’s objectives.
“With Nigeria joining strength with AMA, we believe we will witness better administration… Nigeria is a strong ally in the Africa continent,” Darko said.
The event also aligned with the federal government’s healthcare reform agenda aimed at strengthening pharmaceutical regulation and improving public health outcomes.
