The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reiterated that the ban on alcohol in sachets and small-volume containers below 200ml remains in force and has not been lifted.

The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, stated this at the launch of a national call centre designed to strengthen pharmacovigilance, improve adverse drug reaction reporting, and combat substandard and falsified medicines in the country.

Adeyeye said many of the agency’s successes in tackling fake and substandard products have been driven by public intelligence. She explained that the new call centre would provide a platform for Nigerians to lodge complaints, make inquiries about NAFDAC services, and report suspected fake or harmful products.

According to her, reports received through the platform would enable the agency to investigate and track offenders. “If a patient takes medicine and feels unwell or notices unusual reactions, they now have a centre they can call. Complaints about substandard or falsified medicines can also be escalated for prompt action,” she said.

The call centre, hosted by Interra Networks, will cover services related to food, drugs, vaccines, medical devices, water, cosmetics, and herbal medicines. Adeyeye said the initiative reflects NAFDAC’s commitment to improving customer engagement and regulatory effectiveness.

She added that improved handling of customer complaints contributed to NAFDAC’s attainment of Maturity Level 3 status under the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Benchmarking Tool in 2022.

Managing Director of Interra Networks, Emeka Okafor, said the platform would operate 24 hours a day and allow Nigerians to report issues at any time. He added that the system is equipped to handle multiple calls simultaneously to ensure that no complaint goes unattended.

NAFDAC reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public health through stronger surveillance, stakeholder engagement, and enforcement of regulations, including the continued restriction on sachet alcohol.

MEANWHILE, the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, Miah Md Kabir, has expressed his country’s readiness to partner with NAFDAC to advance pharmaceutical development and promote trade and investment between both countries.

During a courtesy visit to the NAFDAC Director-General, Kabir said Bangladesh and Nigeria share a long-standing relationship and expressed optimism for deeper cooperation in pharmaceuticals, technology exchange, and drug and vaccine security.
He noted that Nigeria remains a key strategic partner for Bangladesh, citing its large population of over 180 million people and the trade opportunities available to both countries.

In her response, Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the availability of safe, high-quality, and efficacious medicines in Nigeria.

She said the Nigerian pharmaceutical sector has recorded significant growth over the years, driven by NAFDAC’s regulatory framework and enforcement actions.

Adeyeye added that at least 200 Nigerian pharmaceutical companies have attained international standards under her leadership in the past eight years.

She noted that the agency also conducts post-market surveillance to ensure product quality and withdraws substandard products from circulation when necessary.

She said NAFDAC’s attainment of the WHO Maturity Level 3 status has boosted investor confidence and attracted international partnerships into Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.

Adeyeye urged the Bangladeshi envoy to encourage investors from his country to establish pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nigeria, stressing that the country offers a large and growing market.

She also noted that NAFDAC operates a state-of-the-art vaccines and biologics laboratory in Lagos, one of the few in Sub-Saharan Africa, and reiterated Nigeria’s readiness to support advanced pharmaceutical production.