Nigerian Senate Advances Bill for Food and Drug Regulation

On Tuesday, the Nigerian Senate passed for second reading a bill titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, Etc.) Act, Cap. F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and for Related Matters, 2026 (SB.952),” sponsored by Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq of Kwara North.

The bill aims to establish a modern, comprehensive legal framework for regulating food, medical products, and other public health-related products in Nigeria. During the plenary session presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Senator Sadiq emphasized the need for updated regulations to combat counterfeit products and align with international best practices.

He noted that existing laws are outdated and do not address current challenges in food production and healthcare technologies. The proposed legislation seeks to create a unified statutory regime under the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) while eliminating obsolete provisions.

Senator Diket Plang of Plateau Central supported the bill, highlighting its importance for public health and economic development.