The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have renewed collaboration to tighten regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured within Nigeria’s Free Trade Zones.
The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, to the Managing Director of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the Authority’s headquarters in Abuja.
Adeyeye said the partnership was aimed at strengthening regulatory cooperation in the oversight of pharmaceuticals, food products, and cosmetics produced within the zones.
“
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,” she stated.
Also Read:Nigeria’s Free Trade and economic Zones get N18.1bn funding
The NAFDAC boss stressed that the agency remained committed to ensuring compliance with approved standards across regulated industries.
“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,” she said.
Adeyeye acknowledged the strategic importance of the Free Trade Zone scheme to Nigeria’s industrialisation but noted the need for stricter monitoring of products exported into the customs territory.
“NEPZA and NAFDAC can fix this misalignment by jointly insisting on compliance. We can close this gap through excellent facility management and improved inspection across the production lines,” she added.
Responding, Ogunyemi welcomed the renewed collaboration, describing it as critical to addressing irregularities in the production and distribution of medical supplies and consumables from the zones.
“We need a joint effort to address some of the irregularities. We will allow NAFDAC to perform its regulatory functions because the public’s health depends on it,” he said.
The NEPZA chief explained that the Free Trade Zone scheme currently comprises 63 zones and more than 900 enterprises, making effective regulation both essential and challenging.
He reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to preventing the zones from becoming channels for illicit activities.
“We fully endorse this partnership and collaboration, which has the potential to enhance the scheme’s global compliance across all production and export activities for the benefit of the country,” Ogunyemi noted.
part of the renewed partnership, both agencies confirmed the establishment of an eight-member technical committee to address factors hindering seamless regulatory operations within the Free Trade Zones.
The move is expected to strengthen product quality assurance, improve compliance standards, and boost consumer confidence in pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured in Nigeria’s export zones.
