The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have taken a significant step towards curbing the influx of illicit drugs and substandard products into the country by launching a Joint
Implementation Committee to operationalise a strategic agreement signed in November 2024.
During a formal meeting held on Wednesday, 9 July in Abuja, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, and NAFDAC Director-General, Professor Moji Adeyeye, inaugurated the committee that will put into effect the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) forged between the two agencies at the 2024 Comptroller-General’s Annual Conference. The MoU provides a framework for enhanced cooperation in regulating pharmaceutical imports and controlling the entry of harmful substances into Nigeria.
Senior officials, including NCS Legal Adviser Smart Akande and NAFDAC representative Olakunle Olaniran, participated in formalising the committee’s structure and responsibilities.
The Comptroller-General described the establishment of the committee as a pivotal step in transforming shared commitments into operational realities.
He noted that ongoing engagement with NAFDAC had reinforced a mutual determination to shield Nigerians from the dangers of unregulated and hazardous products, adding that the MoU constitutes a legally binding agreement under Nigerian law.
Olaniran has been appointed to chair the committee, with Akande serving as deputy. Their mandate includes the development of a coordinated work plan, harmonisation of regulatory standards, joint training and communication efforts, and regular monitoring of progress.
Professor Adeyeye expressed her approval of the swift transition from policy dialogue to concrete action.
She emphasised that regulatory collaboration with Customs is not merely beneficial but essential in eliminating counterfeit and dangerous products from Nigerian markets.
She further stated that the joint committee would help streamline operations between both agencies, improving efficiency and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to protect public health.
The formation of the committee marks a reinforced institutional alliance, signalling a unified front in the ongoing effort to combat a persistent threat to public safety.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
