NAFDAC has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s effective participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through strengthened regulatory capacity and inter-agency collaboration. This was highlighted during a one-day capacity-building training for NAFDAC staff, organised by the Nigeria AfCFTA Coordination Office, themed “The Role of NAFDAC in AfCFTA Implementation.”
In her address, the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the AfCFTA as a defining milestone for the continent, noting that it presents both opportunities and responsibilities for NAFDAC as a key player in safeguarding public health. She emphasised that as the volume of regulated products crossing African borders increases, vigilance at ports and enhanced intelligence-driven inspections will be critical to preventing the influx of substandard and falsified products.
Prof. Adeyeye also underscored NAFDAC’s strategic role as an enabler of the Nigerian industry, stressing the need for efficient export certification and streamlined regulatory processes that support manufacturers to compete effectively in the continental market without compromising safety and quality standards. She further highlighted the importance of inter-regulatory collaboration among agencies within Nigeria and across Africa to harmonise standards, strengthen mutual recognition arrangements, and share intelligence on unsafe products.
The Director-General encouraged staff to embrace continuous learning and deepen their understanding of AfCFTA’s implications for regulatory science, urging them to remain proactive as “regulatory ambassadors” for Nigeria and the continent. She reaffirmed that with NAFDAC’s WHO Global Benchmarking Tool Maturity Level 3 (GBT ML3) status, the Agency continues to serve as a model for regulatory excellence across Africa.
