President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and vaccines in line with international best practices.
The President stated this in a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, while welcoming the WHO’s verdict that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has successfully maintained a regulatory system that operates as a stable, well-functioning, and integrated framework for regulating medicines and vaccines (non-producing).
This achievement, the President said, results from investment by the Government of Nigeria in strengthening the regulatory system.
He noted that this achievement strengthens Nigeria’s standing as a reliable partner in global health security and pandemic preparedness.
“NAFDAC has successfully maintained a regulatory system that operates as a stable, well-functioning, and integrated framework for regulating medicines and vaccines (non-producing). This achievement results from investment by the Government of Nigeria in strengthening the regulatory system.”
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President Tinubu emphasised that the milestone complements his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Nigerian Leader underscored that promoting local production of healthcare products remains a priority.
The President acknowledged the progress in the administration’s initiatives to upgrade over 17,000 primary health centres nationwide, improve maternal care and diagnostics in underserved communities, train 120,000 frontline health workers, and double national health insurance coverage within three years.
The Nigerian President pledged that Nigeria will continue collaborating with credible partners, development agencies, and donor organisations to promote the pharmaceutical sector, attract investment in health-related industries, and expand local manufacturing capacity.
NAFDAC On WHO ML3
The Nigerian Leader congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on retaining the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
President Tinubu assured Nigerians that his administration will continue to support NAFDAC in its journey towards achieving WHO’s Maturity Level 4, the highest global standard of regulatory excellence.
The President commended NAFDAC’s management and staff for their professionalism, consistency, and dedication to safeguarding public health.
The global health regulatory body conducted a re-benchmarking exercise from May 28 to May 30, 2025, assessing NAFDAC against globally recognised standards for regulatory performance.
NAFDAC attained ML3 status in 2022, becoming Africa’s first National Regulatory Authority to achieve this milestone in regulating medicines and vaccines (non-producing). In consonance with the WHO policy, periodic reviews are conducted to ensure sustained compliance.
The latest evaluation followed a formal re-benchmarking in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan (IDP) review meetings between February and April 2025 to assess progress on corrective actions.
Hauwa Abu