FG tightens monitoring, blocks fake drugs from free trade zones

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The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have agreed to strengthen joint monitoring of pharmaceutical products, food items and consumables produced within the country’s free trade zones amid growing concerns over fake and substandard products infiltrating Nigerian markets.

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The decision was reached during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye, to the Managing Director of NEPZA, Olufemi Ogunyemi, at the authority’s headquarters in Abuja.

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According to a statement issued on Thursday by NEPZA’s Head of Corporate Communications, Martins Odeh, the two agencies agreed to deepen collaboration to improve regulatory oversight and prevent free trade zones from becoming channels for illicit pharmaceutical and consumable products.

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The statement read, “The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control have agreed to strengthen their joint oversight of pharmaceutical and consumable products manufactured within the Free Trade Zones.”

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Speaking during the meeting, Adeyeye said the visit was aimed at strengthening institutional cooperation that would enable NAFDAC to effectively discharge its statutory responsibilities, especially in regulating the importation, exportation, production and distribution of pharmaceuticals, food and cosmetics within the zones.

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She said, “I wish to, on behalf of my team of directors, express our appreciation to you, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, the Managing Director/CEO of NEPZA, and your team for this kind gesture in welcoming us.

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“Let me, however, state that we must view this meeting as a responsibility we have to the country to protect citizens from fake drugs and consumables that are infiltrating our markets from known and unknown destinations.

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“NAFDAC has always insisted on conducting appropriate tests and ensuring compliance with the standard specifications designated and approved by the council to effectively control the quality of regulated products across the relevant industries in Nigeria.”

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The NAFDAC boss stressed the importance of the free trade zone scheme to Nigeria’s industrialisation drive, noting that stronger monitoring mechanisms were necessary to ensure the safety and efficacy of products manufactured within the zones and exported into the Nigerian market.

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According to her, gaps in compliance and inspection processes must be addressed through joint regulatory action.

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“NEPZA and NAFDAC can fix this misalignment by jointly insisting on compliance. We can close this gap through excellent facility management and improved inspection across the production lines,” Adeyeye stated.

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On his part, Ogunyemi welcomed the collaboration, saying the authority was committed to eliminating all forms of irregularities associated with the production and movement of medical supplies and consumables within the free trade zones.

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He described the scheme as a major economic gateway for Nigeria’s industrial growth, noting that the country currently has 63 free trade zones hosting over 900 enterprises.

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The NEPZA boss, however, admitted that regulating activities within the zones remained challenging due to the scale and complexity of operations.

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“We need a joint effort to address some of the irregularities. We will allow NAFDAC to perform its regulatory functions because the public’s health depends on it,” Ogunyemi said.

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He added that the authority had consistently resisted attempts by criminal elements to exploit the zones for unlawful activities.

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“NEPZA has always been at the vanguard of disallowing the zones to be used as blind spots for illicit activities.

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“We fully endorse this partnership and collaboration, which has the potential to enhance the scheme’s global compliance across all production and export activities for the benefit of the country,” he added.

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The meeting also led to the confirmation of an eight-member technical committee tasked with identifying obstacles hindering seamless enforcement of regulatory responsibilities within the free trade zones.

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The committee is expected to recommend measures that would improve coordination, compliance enforcement and quality assurance across the country’s export processing zones.

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The renewed collaboration comes amid increasing concerns over the circulation of counterfeit drugs, unsafe food products and substandard consumables in Nigeria, despite repeated enforcement actions by regulatory authorities.

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Stakeholders have repeatedly warned that weak monitoring systems, porous supply chains and regulatory loopholes continue to expose consumers to significant health risks.

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Free trade zones were established to attract investment, boost exports and accelerate industrialisation through tax incentives and simplified business regulations.

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However, concerns have persisted over regulatory oversight and the potential misuse of the zones for illegal trading activities.

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