NEPZA, NAFDAC Deepen Partnership to Strengthen Regulation of Pharmaceuticals, Consumables in Free Trade Zones

The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have renewed their commitment to strengthening regulatory oversight of pharmaceutical products and consumables produced within the nation’s Free Trade Zones (FTZs).

The renewed collaboration was reaffirmed during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, to the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the Authority’s headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the engagement, Prof. Adeyeye said the visit was aimed at reinforcing inter-agency cooperation to enhance NAFDAC’s regulatory responsibilities, particularly in monitoring the importation, exportation, manufacturing, and distribution of pharmaceuticals, food products, and cosmetics within the Free Trade Zones.

She stressed the need for stronger institutional collaboration to curb the circulation of counterfeit drugs and substandard consumables entering Nigerian markets through both known and unidentified channels.

According to her, NAFDAC remains committed to enforcing strict quality assurance measures through appropriate testing and compliance monitoring in line with approved national standards for regulated products.

Prof. Adeyeye also underscored the strategic importance of the Free Trade Zone scheme to Nigeria’s industrialisation and economic growth, noting that improved monitoring mechanisms were necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical and food products entering the customs territory from the zones.

She added that closer collaboration between NEPZA and NAFDAC would help bridge existing regulatory gaps through enhanced inspections, improved facility management, and stricter compliance enforcement across production lines.

Responding, Dr. Ogunyemi welcomed the renewed partnership, describing it as a critical step toward addressing concerns surrounding the quality of medical supplies and consumables produced within the Free Trade Zones.

The NEPZA boss noted that the scheme currently comprises 63 zones and over 900 enterprises, making it a major driver of national economic development, while acknowledging the regulatory challenges associated with overseeing such a vast ecosystem.

He reaffirmed NEPZA’s readiness to support NAFDAC in carrying out its statutory responsibilities, emphasizing that public health and consumer protection remain top priorities.

Dr. Ogunyemi further stated that NEPZA had consistently worked to prevent the Free Trade Zones from being exploited for illicit activities and pledged the Authority’s full support for the partnership to ensure global best practices and compliance across production and export operations.

A major outcome of the meeting was the confirmation of an eight-member technical committee tasked with examining factors hindering the seamless implementation of the agencies’ regulatory mandates within the Free Trade Zones.