NAFDAC pledges safeguards against unsafe medicines under U.S.-Nigeria deal

The House of Representatives has called for stronger measures against fake and substandard food products, while advancing efforts to regulate nutrition practice through a proposed law to establish the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.

Relatedly, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) pledged to safeguard Nigerians against unsafe medicines supplied under the United States-Nigeria Government (USG-GoN) agreement, assuring that products entering the country would be subject to appropriate regulatory checks

The two developments in the House took place yesterday, with the lawmakers adopting a motion on food safety during plenary before meeting stakeholders for a public hearing on the nutrition bill.

The House urged the Presidency to intensify the fight against the production and sale of adulterated food, counterfeit beverages and other substandard consumer products, warning that they pose serious risks to public health.

The motion, sponsored by Abubakar Yalleman, who represents Madori/Kaugama Federal Constituency of Jigawa State, called for stronger enforcement of existing regulations and better coordination among agencies responsible for food safety and consumer protection.

Yalleman said access to safe, high-quality food was essential to public health, productivity, and economic development. He added that proper processing, hygiene and compliance with safety standards could prevent illnesses caused by harmful bacteria, chemical residues and contaminated ingredients.

The lawmaker expressed concern about illegal factories and counterfeit operations, citing NAFDAC’s dismantling of alcohol-counterfeiting syndicates at Zamfara Plaza on Lagos Island on April 22, 2026. He also referred to the September 22 raid by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) on an illegal, unregistered fruit juice factory in Badagry, Lagos.

He warned that such practices could expose consumers to acute poisoning, cancer and damage to vital organs, including the liver, kidneys, lungs and heart.

Earlier, House Committee Chairman on Nutrition and Food Security, Chike Okafor, said the public hearing would allow citizens, experts and other stakeholders to present their views before the House reached a position on the bill.

He assured participants that the committee had not predetermined its recommendation and would consider submissions both for and against the proposed law.

NAFDAC said the agreement covers medicines for HIV/AIDS intended to fill the gap created by the exit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), adding that it would deploy a technology-driven tracking system to monitor the distribution of all medical products supplied under the arrangement.

In a statement signed by its Director-General, Prof. Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC maintained that it would continue to exercise its statutory responsibility for regulating medicines, vaccines, and diagnostics, notwithstanding existing regulatory reliance arrangements with other countries.

Explaining the regulatory framework governing the U.S.-Nigeria pact, the agency said the memorandum of understanding (MoU) refers to its existing regulatory-reliance arrangement with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Under the arrangement, products manufactured in the U.S. and approved by the FDA could receive expedited approval in Nigeria, given the rigour of the American regulatory process.

However, NAFDAC clarified that products supplied under the agreement but not manufactured in the U.S. would be tested by the agency to establish their quality, safety and efficacy.

It added that regulatory reliance was intended to reduce unnecessary duplication and accelerate access to quality-assured products without removing NAFDAC’s authority to make independent regulatory decisions in Nigeria.

According to the agency, its responsibilities include evaluating applications, inspecting products and manufacturing facilities, conducting risk-based testing, releasing vaccine lots and carrying out post-market surveillance where necessary.