By Helen Okechukwu, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE NATIONAL Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has announced a renewed focus on five key pillars aimed at safeguarding public health in Nigeria.
The agency revealed these plans during a press conference held in Lagos on Thursday to outline its priorities for 2025.
At the event, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye detailed the strategic pillars: strong governance and leadership, maternal, newborn and child health, institutionalisation of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products, and supply chain monitoring.
She noted that these initiatives would help address critical health challenges, including reducing maternal and child mortality.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC’s achievements over the past seven years inspired the agency to intensify efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory systems.
“We are committed to unlocking the value chain through improved access to quality regulated products,” she stated.
Highlighting the agency’s plan for maternal and child health, Adeyeye stressed the importance of ensuring the safety and quality of regulated products such as paediatric antimalarials and antibiotics.
She disclosed that NAFDAC would support manufacturers in developing paediatric medicines and assist them in achieving World Health Organisation (WHO) prequalification.
The Director-General also pointed to the need for more staff to adequately address the nation’s population.
“We currently have about 2,000 staff, but to effectively safeguard Nigerians’ health, we need at least double or triple that number,” Adeyeye explained.
Despite being understaffed, she further assured the public that the agency would continue to prioritise training and maintaining a highly motivated workforce.
