The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have agreed to strengthen their joint oversight of pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured within the Free Trade Zones.

The two regulatory agencies made the decision during a courtesy visit by Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, to her counterpart, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the NEPZA Headquarters in Abuja, yesterday.

Adeyeye said her visit was intended to strengthen cooperation and partnerships that could help NAFDAC perform its regulatory functions, including overseeing the importation, exportation, production, and distribution of pharmaceuticals, food, and cosmetics by entities in free trade zones.

Adeyeye emphasised the importance of the free trade zone scheme to the country’s industrialisation and growth, adding that efforts were needed to streamline and monitor the efficacy and safety of pharmaceuticals and the food exported to the customs territory by entities within the zones.

On his part, the NEPZA boss expressed delight at NAFDAC’s overture to address all the alleged anomalies in the delivery of quality medical supplies and consumables from the free trade zones.