The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have agreed to strengthen joint oversight of pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured within the country’s Free Trade Zones.
The decision was reached during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the NEPZA headquarters in Abuja.
In a statement issued by Martins Odeh, Head of Corporate Communications at NEPZA, Adeyeye said the visit was aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnerships to enable NAFDAC effectively carry out its regulatory responsibilities, including oversight of the importation, exportation, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics by enterprises operating within the Free Trade Zones.
She said both agencies must see the engagement as a national responsibility to protect Nigerians from fake drugs and substandard consumables entering the market from various sources.
“NAFDAC has always insisted on conducting appropriate tests and ensuring compliance with approved standards to effectively control the quality of regulated products across the relevant industries in Nigeria,” Adeyeye said.
She stressed the importance of the Free Trade Zone scheme to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth, noting that stronger monitoring mechanisms were needed to ensure the efficacy of pharmaceuticals and safety of food products exported into the customs territory from enterprises operating in the zones.
“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 production lines,” she added.
Responding, Ogunyemi welcomed NAFDAC’s move to address alleged irregularities in the supply of medical products and consumables from the Free Trade Zones.
He described the scheme, which comprises 63 zones and more than 900 enterprises, as a major gateway for Nigeria’s economic development, while acknowledging the regulatory challenges associated with overseeing the operations.
“We need a joint effort to address some of the irregularities. We will allow NAFDAC to perform its regulatory functions because public health depends on it,” Ogunyemi said.
According to him, NEPZA remains committed to preventing the zones from being used as 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,” he added.
The meeting also confirmed the establishment of an eight member technical committee to examine factors hindering the seamless application of the agencies’ regulatory functions within the Free Trade Zones.