Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has announced a comprehensive tightening of pharmaceutical imports from China and India. During a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja, she declared that only drug products meeting stringent quality standards will be allowed into Nigeria moving forward. “We will no longer compromise on the health of Nigerians. Every product must be traceable, verifiable, and compliant with international benchmarks,” she asserted.
Mojisola Adeyeye emphasized that this decision is not merely regulatory but also patriotic, aimed at shielding Nigerians from substandard and falsified medications flooding the market. She noted that a disturbing volume of pharmaceuticals from India and China had failed laboratory analysis and did not meet WHO’s Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) protocols. This, she said, compelled NAFDAC to implement more aggressive controls.
Substandard Drugs and National Health Risk — Prof. Adeyeye Raises Alarm
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC investigations had traced numerous public health crises to imported drugs with dubious origins and inconsistent quality, particularly from China and India. “These are not just regulatory infractions — they are threats to national health security,” she warned. She cited examples of falsified antibiotics and anti-malarials that jeopardized treatment outcomes across Nigerian hospitals.
She also underlined that the COVID-19 pandemic exposed Nigeria’s dangerous overdependence on foreign pharmaceuticals. “When borders closed, and supply chains broke, we found ourselves stranded. This move is part of correcting that dependency,” she stated. According to her, tightening import protocols is both a health safeguard and a step toward national self-sufficiency.
New Import Framework Under Prof. Adeyeye’s Leadership
Under Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye’s direction, NAFDAC has introduced a revamped importation framework that places responsibility squarely on foreign manufacturers. All pharmaceutical companies exporting to Nigeria must now undergo rigorous pre-qualification, present verifiable GMP certifications, and submit samples for multilayered quality testing. “The days of paper-based compliance are over. We will verify, inspect, and enforce,” she affirmed.
She added that NAFDAC will deploy advanced post-market surveillance systems, including mobile authentication technology and digital track-and-trace mechanisms. These tools, she noted, are critical in identifying rogue products and stopping them before reaching consumers. Prof. Adeyeye stressed that importers found complicit in falsified entries will face full regulatory sanctions.
Prof. Adeyeye Champions Local Pharmaceutical Development
Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye declared that a vital part of this policy shift is the aggressive promotion of local pharmaceutical manufacturing. “We must build our own capacity, and we must do it now,” she said. NAFDAC is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Health and development partners to provide technical support, funding access, and fast-tracked regulatory approvals for indigenous pharmaceutical companies.
She set an ambitious goal of increasing domestic pharmaceutical production by 50% within five years. According to her, strengthening Nigeria’s industrial base will reduce import dependence, create jobs, and improve drug affordability. “It is unacceptable that a nation of 200 million people imports over 70% of its essential medicines,” she remarked.
Stakeholders React as Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye Defends Policy Direction
While importers and distributors have raised concerns about potential shortages and market disruptions, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye stood firm on the policy’s necessity. “Public health is non-negotiable. We will not be blackmailed by commercial interests,” she said. She acknowledged the anxiety among some industry players but urged patience, stating that transitional mechanisms have been designed to cushion any short-term impact.
The Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) praised the agency’s resolve but also appealed for stakeholder dialogue to avoid unintended consequences. In response, Prof. Adeyeye announced the formation of a regulatory advisory council to facilitate industry feedback and ensure smooth policy rollout. “We are open to engagement but closed to compromise on quality,” she clarified.
A Bold Vision for Pharmaceutical Sovereignty
Prof. Adeyeye concluded that the ultimate goal is pharmaceutical sovereignty — a Nigeria that can produce, regulate, and distribute its own medicines without external dependency. “We are laying the bricks for a self-reliant pharmaceutical future,” she said. According to her, the current measures are foundational steps toward transforming Nigeria into a regional pharmaceutical hub.
She believes that with consistent policy enforcement, investor incentives, and global best practices, Nigeria can reclaim control of its drug supply chain. “This is a defining moment for our healthcare system. It is time to prioritize integrity, innovation, and independence,” Prof. Adeyeye stated, calling on all Nigerians to support the new direction.
Table of Contents
Discover more from OGM News NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
