FG tightens monitoring, blocks fake drugs from free trade zones

In a crucial move to safeguard public health and bolster the integrity of Nigeria's industrialization drive, the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have pledged to strengthen their collaborative efforts. This partnership is a direct response to the growing concern over the infiltration of fake and substandard pharmaceutical products and consumables into the Nigerian market, often facilitated through free trade zones.

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I wish to, on behalf of my team of directors, express our appreciation to you, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, the Managing Director/CEO of NEPZA, and your team for this kind gesture in welcoming us.

During a courtesy visit by NAFDAC's Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, to NEPZA's headquarters in Abuja, both agencies underscored the necessity of deepening their joint monitoring mechanisms. The agreement signifies a commitment to ensuring that Nigeria's free trade zones do not become conduits for illicit products. Adeyeye emphasized that this collaboration is a shared responsibility to protect citizens from the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs and consumables, stressing NAFDAC's unwavering insistence on rigorous testing and compliance with approved standards.

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Let me, however, state that we must view this meeting as a responsibility we have to the country to protect citizens from fake drugs and consumables that are infiltrating our markets from known and unknown destinations.

NEPZA's Managing Director, Olufemi Ogunyemi, welcomed the enhanced cooperation, reiterating the authority's dedication to eradicating irregularities in the production and movement of medical supplies and consumables within the zones. The focus will be on addressing gaps in compliance and inspection processes through joint regulatory action. By jointly insisting on compliance and improving facility management and inspection across production lines, NEPZA and NAFDAC aim to close these critical gaps, thereby ensuring the safety and efficacy of products manufactured within the zones and destined for the Nigerian market.

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NAFDAC has always insisted on conducting appropriate tests and ensuring compliance with the standard specifications designated and approved by the council to effectively control the quality of regulated products across the relevant industries in Nigeria.