The Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Moji Adeyeye has lamented that Nigeria has many ghost companies operating pharmaceuticals, yet not on NAFDAC’s list of operators.
Prof. Adeyeye who was speaking at the ongoing Comptroller-General of Customs’ 2024 Conference taking place at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, noted that NAFDAC’s newly signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) will mark the end of such illicit operations.
Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have formalised a strategic partnership with the signing of an MoU to curb the influx of unregistered pharmaceutical products and other harmful substances into the nation.
Professor Adeyeye highlighted the threats posed by unregulated and illicit products to national security, as some approved chemicals can be misused by criminals and terrorists, adding, “This is of national significance”
Meanwhile, the Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi described the agreement as the culmination of years of dedicated dialogue and coordination between the two agencies.
Highlighting the critical mandate of the Customs Service in safeguarding national security, public health, and safety, stating, “What we have seen today is a culmination of efforts for several months—I must say, years—of regular consultation between the two of us. This partnership is a response to a major scourge we are facing in the country.”
Emphasising the specific provisions of the MoU, Adeniyi noted that Article 2 of the document outlined a comprehensive scope of collaboration, particularly in intelligence sharing, adding, “We’ll be talking about the exchange of intelligence between our agencies.
CGC Adeniyi further said, Sometimes, at midnight, NAFDAC DG sends intelligence to me, saying, “We learn that a suspicious container may be birthing in the morning. This kind of real-time information flow is critical to our joint efforts.”
Reflecting on the collaborative bond that has grown between NAFDAC and Customs personnel, CGC Adeniyi emphasised the hands-on commitment shown by officers at the nation’s ports and border stations.
His words: “When we declared a state of emergency in one of our ports, we were misunderstood, but the reports we have received indicate we are just scratching the surface of illicit pharmaceutical products entering our markets. It is time for all of us to say, collectively, that this will be the beginning of the end. We are going to save Nigeria and the future of our kids from these dangerous products.”
Speaking earlier, NAFDAC’s Director-General, Adeyeye, described the signing of the MoU as a “significant stride”, pointing out the daily impact of the products regulated by her agency on Nigerians.
Adeyeye said, “We consume at least two of our regulated products every day—food and healthcare items. This partnership is about ensuring that the food, drugs, and healthcare products we take are safe and of the highest quality.”
Professor Moji further expressed gratitude for the close partnership with Customs officers, affirming that the initiative transcends individuals and agencies, stressing that, “It’s not about NAFDAC; it’s not about Adeyeye or Adeniyi. It’s about saving the future of our country.”
