By Oluyemi Israel
The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially recertified the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) at Maturity Level 3 for regulating drugs and food products.
This recognition shows that Nigeria meets important international standards in health product regulation.
The announcement was made during a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
The recertification became effective on June 30. Earlier, from November 25 to 29, 2024, WHO officials carried out a detailed re-benchmarking exercise in both Abuja and Lagos.
During this visit, they evaluated Nigeria’s regulatory systems, reviewed progress on five institutional development plans, and checked if key recommendations were met.
This process included auditing facilities and reviewing laws and guidelines.
The successful completion of this re-benchmarking confirms that Nigeria has a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system.
This achievement helps improve Nigeria’s international reputation and supports efforts to reach the next level of certification, Maturity Level 4, which will further boost the country’s standing and economic opportunities.
Key people involved include Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC, and Mr. Ibrahim Ahmed, Registrar and CEO of PCN.
Both agencies remain the first National Regulatory Authorities in Africa to maintain this high WHO status, showing their leadership and commitment to global best practices.