Maximise Africa’s free trade pact, NAFDAC advises pharmaceutical firms

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has advised Nigerian pharmaceutical companies to maximise the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) through exportation of quality products.

The Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, in a statement signed by the Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, in Lagos, yesterday, said the pharmaceuticals must be ready to trade their superior products that can pass all-encompassing assessment tests across the continent.

She said the appeal is against the backdrop of the pact allowing free trade among African countries. Speaking on ‘From Green to Gold: Operational realities in the 21st Century’ at the 50th anniversary of Daily-Need Industries Limited in Nigeria’s economic capital, Adeyeye maintained that “Research and Development (R&D) is an important creativity and innovation that several companies will need to incorporate into the manufacturing environment.”

The NAFDAC boss observed that the move would encourage investigation and clinical trials of new molecules, immune-modulators and alternative medicines, especially for some non-communicable diseases like cancers and diabetes. She commended leaderships of pharmaceutical companies for rising to the occasion.

The pharmacist restated that NAFDAC was committed to supporting innovation and recognising the industry through the five-year exclusivity policy introduced in 2019 for local manufacturers to produce and market with a view to meeting in-country demand.

She said creativity could be achieved through pre-qualification of facility and product, noting that this could also be done with a goal to get certification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) or as part of preparations for global trade via collaborative registration and reliance among regulators.

“This is being underscored today because of the AfCFTA that allows free trade among African countries. Nigerian pharmaceutical companies must be ready to trade quality products that can be approved in the different countries through continental reliance among regulators,” Adeyeye urged.