The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), yesterday, announced a momentous achievement for the Central Drug Control Laboratory (CDCL) in Yaba, Lagos State, as the World Health Organisation (WHO) has officially granted its prequalification status to the lab, signifying a milestone in its dedication to ensuring the safety and quality of pharmaceutical products.

Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, yesterday, told journalists: “This was communicated to us through a mail received from WHO prequalification inspection team on Friday, September 15, 2023.

“This success was finally published on the WHO website last week and the website address through which the public can cite and reference this was shared with us for dissemination to the public.

“You can access the information on the prequalification procedure, as well as the list of prequalified quality control laboratories, on the prequalification unit – medicines website https://extranet.who.int/pqweb/medicines.

Adeyeye said the WHO prequalification of the CDCL was a testament to the unwavering commitment of NAFDAC to meeting international standards of excellence in drug quality control and regulation, adding that the prestigious recognition brings numerous benefits to CDCL, NAFDAC, and, most importantly, to the Nigerian people.

The pharmacist said key benefits of the WHO prequalification of NAFDAC CDCL include global recognition, enhanced pharmaceutical quality, international collaboration, enhancing public health, streamlined regulatory processes, enhanced credibility, and advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The NAFDAC DG said this achievement would not have been possible without the hard work, dedication, and unwavering commitment of the Minister of Health, NAFDAC management, CDCL members of staff, the agency’s esteemed partners, such as WHO Nigeria Country Office, United States Pharmacopeia Pre-qualification Mechanism Plus (USP PQM+) Nigeria Country office and Global Fund. She said it underscores their commitment to safeguarding public health and improving healthcare access for all Nigerians.

“We are excited about the possibilities that this recognition brings and look forward to continuing our work to uphold the highest standards of pharmaceutical quality control and regulation. NAFDAC remains committed to its mission of safeguarding public health by ensuring that only safe, effective, and quality medicines and healthcare products are available to all Nigerians.

“We look forward to leveraging this achievement to strengthen our partnerships, enhance healthcare access, and contribute to the overall improvement of public health in Nigeria and the West African region,” Adeyeye said.