Inadequate staffing remains NAFDAC’s biggest hurdle, says DG

Mojisola Adeyeye, the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has highlighted inadequate staffing as the agency’s most pressing challenge, impacting its ability to execute its regulatory mandate fully.

Despite significant achievements over the past seven years, the shortage of personnel at headquarters and across state formations has created gaps in critical areas such as inspections, safety monitoring, and post-marketing surveillance.

To address this, NAFDAC plans to engage volunteers, improve staff remuneration, and advocate for statutory approvals to meet global regulatory benchmarks, ensuring the agency can continue safeguarding public health effectively.

“Strengthening the regulatory system begins with our first strategic pillar – strong governance and leadership ensuring the workforce stays highly motivated and disciplined. But our greatest need is adequate staff for all our regulatory activities,” Adeyeye stated in its strategic plan for 2025.

The plan is underpinned by three strategic pillars—governance and leadership, institutionalisation of best practices, and safety and quality of regulated products. NAFDAC aims to strengthen Nigeria’s regulatory framework, enhance public health, and foster economic growth through these.

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It plans to adopt innovative measures, such as engaging volunteers, to support the agency’s regulatory activities while awaiting statutory approvals to meet the World Health Organisation Global bench-marking requirements.

She stated its priorities will centre on staff remuneration and infrastructure upgrades, including the completion of state and zonal offices, which will enhance operational efficiency.

To further its sustainability goals, NAFDAC plans to integrate solar panels into selected facilities, reducing energy costs and promoting eco-friendly operations.

Investments in tools like vehicles, computers, and laboratory equipment will also be made to support expanding regulatory activities, particularly for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Adeyeye promised.

She further reiterated the leadership’s commitment to staff training, with programs focused on regulatory inspection, post-marketing surveillance, clinical trial monitoring, and customer service.

“Leveraging a new training app, NAFDAC will track these activities in real-time and host monthly seminars featuring strategic partners such as the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria and Nigeria Customs Service,” the DG said.

Product Safety & Maternal Health

In a transformative move, NAFDAC has declared 2025 as the “Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health & Nutrition Year”.

The agency will emphasise the safety and efficacy of critical maternal health products, such as Oxytocin and paediatric antimalarials, according to the new plan.

Initiatives will include incentivising manufacturers to develop pediatric medicines and conducting market surveys to ensure quality.

Similarly, regulating therapeutic foods for malnourished children will take precedence, with a focus on supporting new products like soybean-based Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF).

Standards

Aiming to maintain its ML3 status and achieve WHO Listed Authority and ML4 status, NAFDAC said it will align its practices with international standards, including the Pharmaceutical Inspection Cooperation Scheme (PIC/S).

Enhanced training on ISO 22,000 and HACCP will strengthen food safety, while the Breastmilk Substitute (BMS) Code monitoring will expand nationwide.

Traditional Medicine & Cosmetics

In a bid to integrate traditional medicine into mainstream healthcare, NAFDAC is seeking grants for clinical trials of herbal medicines targeting conditions such as malaria, diabetes, and hypertension.

Collaborations with the Nigerian Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) are expected to facilitate the creation of a Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia and a digital database of traditional medicine.

NAFDAC also plans to conduct studies comparing locally produced and imported cosmetics to identify opportunities for boosting domestic production and limiting harmful imports.

Communication

Public communication will focus on mitigating substandard medicines and promoting a “one-health” approach to combat antimicrobial resistance.

Joint sensitization campaigns with health partners will leverage multiple media platforms to educate Nigerians on regulated products and their safe use.