The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is a Nigerian federal agency under the Federal Ministry of Health that is responsible for regulating and controlling the manufacture, importation, exportation, advertisement, distribution, sale, and use of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals, and packaged water.
The agency is headed by Dr. Monica Eimunjeze in an acting capacity on November 12, 2022, according to an internal memo dated November 17, 2022, signed by Oboli A.U and copied to all Directors at the agency, following the expiration of Prof Mojisola Adeyeye. She was appointed on 12 November 2022 by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the acting Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Formation
The organization was established to counter illicit and counterfeit products in Nigeria in 1993 under the country's health and safety law. Adulterated and counterfeit drugs are a problem in Nigeria. In one 1989 incident, over 150 children died as a result of paracetamol syrup containing diethylene glycol. The problem of fake drugs was so severe that neighboring countries such as Ghana and Sierra Leone officially banned the sale of drugs, foods, and beverages products made in Nigeria.
Such problems led to the establishment of NAFDAC, with the goal of eliminating counterfeit pharmaceuticals, foods, and beverages products that are not manufactured in Nigeria and ensuring that available medications are safe and effective.
The formation of NAFDAC was inspired by a 1988 World Health Assembly resolution requesting countries' help in combating the global health threat posed by counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
In December 1992, NAFDAC's first governing council was formed. The council was chaired by Tanimu Saulawa. In January 1993, supporting legislation was approved as Legislative Decree No. 15 of 1993. On January 1, 1994, NAFDAC was officially established as a “parastatal of the Federal Ministry of Health”.
NAFDAC replaced an earlier Federal Ministry of Health body, the Directorate of Food and Drug Administration and Control, which had been deemed ineffective, partially because of a lack of laws, concerning fake drugs.
Administration
Chairman and council
“(NAFDAC) is headed by a chairman who presides over a governing council appointed by the president on the recommendation of the Minister of Health.”Other council members are: Chairman - Yusuf A. Suleiman (Dan Amar Sokoto) The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health - Mr. A. M. Abdullahi. The Director-General of NAFDAC - Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON) - Barr. Aboloma Osita National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) The chairman of the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) - Elijah Mohammed The chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) - Muhammad Abdallah Representative of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria - Okey Akpa Representative of the Food and Beverage Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria - Anegbe Patrick Tukur S. Fada Tambuwal – Member Mufutau Bolaji Yahaya – Member Opeyemi Bamidele – Member Three people from the general public are also represented on the council.
Several units make up NAFDAC which include: The Legal unit is charged with offering legal advice on “law arising from Employee-Employer relationship and is the custodian of legal documents and all agreements relating to the Agency." The Public Relations unit is headed by the director-general's office. Its main function is to inform, sensitize, enlighten, and create awareness concerning the role of the Agency. The agency is divided into eight directorates with the last two newly added. Internal Audit provides a means of measuring the effectiveness of the system of internal control and accounting and carries out special investigations.