At a press briefing in Lagos on Thursday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) outlined its five pillars of transformation in 2025.
The Director General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, while reflecting on the agency’s accomplishments over the past seven years, said the agency will focus on five pillars: strong governance and leadership, maternal newborn and child health, institutionalization of best practices, safety and quality of regulated products, and monitoring of the supply chain.
According to her, “A cornerstone of the strategic plan is addressing the agency’s greatest need: an adequately staffed workforce.”
Adeyeye noted that the agency is acutely understaffed despite the NAFDAC’s extensive regulatory responsibilities.
She said to meet the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Benchmarking requirements, the agency plans to engage volunteers while awaiting statutory approval for additional hires.
She added that the agency requires 10,000 workers to effectively oversee the population’s needs but has only 2,000 staff nationwide.
The Director General reiterated that the current workforce is overstretched but said NAFDAC remains committed to safeguarding public health and maintaining Nigeria’s global standing.
“Efforts to address this include stringent recruitment processes to ensure integrity and competence. While the agency seeks to double or triple its current staff, funding constraints have limited the pace of expansion.
“Volunteers are also being incorporated into the workforce, with candidates undergoing the same rigorous screening as regular staff.
“Staff motivation and retention remain key priorities, with a focus on improved remuneration and capacity building. Training initiatives will target officers in all 36 states to enhance skills in regulatory inspection, post-marketing surveillance, clinical trial monitoring, and customer service. Monthly seminars with strategic partners like the Nigeria Customs Service, NDLEA, and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria will ensure cross-agency collaboration and knowledge sharing” Adeyeye explained.
On infrastructure and tools for efficiency, she said NAFDAC plans to complete 10 state and zonal offices, as well as laboratories, including the Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices Laboratory in Oshodi. Investments in vehicles, laboratory equipment, and computers will bolster efficiency, while solar panels will be integrated into selected facilities to reduce energy costs.
On safety and Quality: Adeyeye said NAFDAC has declared 2025 as the “Year of Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & Nutrition (MNCH&N).”
“The agency will prioritize the regulation of maternal health products such as oxytocin, tranexamic acid, and carbetocin to prevent postpartum haemorrhage and reduce maternal mortality.
“For children, emphasis will be placed on the quality and availability of antimalarial, antibiotics, and ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for malnourished children.
“Manufacturers will be incentivized to produce paediatric medicines, supported by regulatory inspection and WHO Prequalification processes, she explained.
Speaking further, on tackling Substandard and Falsified Products: “The agency aims to minimize the prevalence of falsified and substandard products to less than five per cent through stringent post-marketing surveillance and inspections.
“Cluster registration of globally listed products and enhanced stakeholder engagement will ensure transparency and consumer safety.”
Speaking on the agency’s focus on Herbal Medicines and Cosmetics, she said NAFDAC is expanding its regulatory focus on herbal medicines, collaborating with the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to develop a Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and Traditional Medicine Formulary. She added that clinical trials for herbal products targeting malaria, diabetes, and hypertension are being planned.
“In the cosmetics sector, the agency will compare locally made products with imports to determine the need for protective policies favouring local manufacturers. Quarterly stakeholder training will ensure compliance with health and safety standards.”
On the Supply Chain Visibility and Traceability, she explained that to secure regulated products, NAFDAC will expand its GS1-driven track-and-trace technology to MNCH&N commodities, ensuring visibility and protection from diversion or infiltration.
“This system, already applied to COVID-19 vaccines and antimalarial, will now extend to high-risk foods and other critical medicines.
“Continued digitization of financial systems has enhanced transparency and efficiency. Moving forward, the agency seeks increased funding to expand staff strength, procure tools, and create conducive work environments,” she added.
Adeyeye further stated that the NAFDAC 2025 Strategic Plan is a bold vision to enhance regulatory efficiency, protect public health, and promote local industry, adding that with a focus on maternal and child health, strengthened supply chains, and expanded workforce capacity, the agency is poised to lead Nigeria into a healthier future.
She however reiterated, “Our efforts are driven by a singular purpose—safeguarding the health of the nation. Together, we can achieve a safer, healthier Nigeria.”
Speaking on other critical issues like the Executive Order on local content, she called for timely enforcement of the order to ensure manufacturers have ample time to adjust before it expires.
Speaking further on border security and counterfeit products, she pointed that to combat the smuggling of unregulated and counterfeit products, NAFDAC is enhancing surveillance at ports and borders.
“However, understaffed borders remain a challenge. The agency plans to utilize pre-screened candidates to bolster manpower as soon as statutory approvals are granted.”
Responding to a question on the Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) in China, she reiterated NAFDAC’s proactive approach to pandemic preparedness.
“While awaiting WHO guidance, the agency has prioritized local manufacturing of medical devices and pharmaceuticals to mitigate overdependence on imports during health crises.” She explained.