Nigeria Enhances Monitoring to Block Fake Drugs in Trade Zones

The Nigerian government has taken decisive action to strengthen monitoring and block counterfeit drugs from free trade zones. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), led by Director General Mojisola Adeyeye, and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), managed by Olufemi Ogunyemi, have agreed to enhance their collaboration.

This decision was made during a meeting at NEPZA headquarters in Abuja, aimed at improving regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical and food products manufactured within these zones. Adeyeye emphasized the importance of compliance with standards to ensure public safety, while Ogunyemi acknowledged the challenges posed by the scale and complexity of operations within the zones.

Both agencies committed to eliminating irregularities associated with product movement and enhancing compliance mechanisms. The collaboration comes amid increasing concerns over counterfeit drugs and unsafe food products infiltrating the Nigerian market, despite previous enforcement actions against regulatory loopholes.