As part of the fight against the importation of illicit pharmaceuticals and other harmful substances into Nigeria, an agreement has been signed to strengthen collaboration between the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) and the country’s customs. The agreement, materialized in a Memorandum of Understanding, was formalized at the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC) conference in Abuja.
The Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Adewale Adeniyi, described the agreement as the result of many years of dialogue and coordination between the two agencies. He stressed that this collaboration was crucial in the face of a major scourge facing the country.
The agreement aims to strengthen cooperation in information sharing, particularly intelligence, to facilitate exchanges between the two agencies. Adeniyi stressed the importance of real-time information sharing, citing instances where the Director-General of NAFDAC would send him valuable intelligence on suspicious containers the day before their arrival, enabling adequate intervention.
The Customs boss also noted that the declaration of a state of emergency at one of the country’s ports was only a first step, stressing that the problem of illicit pharmaceuticals was much deeper and required concerted and effective action.
On her part, the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, stressed the importance of such collaboration in ensuring the safety and quality of food, medicines and health products consumed daily by Nigerians. She highlighted the threats posed by unregulated and illicit products to national security, warning against the misuse of approved substances by criminals and terrorists.
This new collaboration between NAFDAC and Nigerian Customs is of paramount importance for the protection of public health and national security. By joining forces, these two government agencies will help to stop the entry of illicit products into the Nigerian market, thereby ensuring consumer protection and preserving the health of the population.