The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has highlighted the impact of its regulatory reforms on investment, local manufacturing and technology transfer in Nigeria’s health products sector.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this while delivering a presentation titled “The Roles of NAFDAC with Regards to Investments in Nigeria” at the Invest Nigeria Conference & Expo 4.0, organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Adeyeye identified NAFDAC’s sustained Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status, described as the highest benchmarking rating in Africa, as a key factor in strengthening investor confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory environment.
She also highlighted Nigeria’s full membership of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), attained in November 2025, as another significant milestone for the country’s pharmaceutical and health products industry.
The NAFDAC boss said the Agency’s regulatory initiatives, including the 5+5 Policy and Ceiling List, had contributed significantly to the expansion of local manufacturing and contract manufacturing partnerships.
According to her, the number of companies involved in contract manufacturing increased from 10 in 2019 to 87 in 2025, while 176 facility layout reviews had been approved as of June 2026.
She added that more than 70 per cent of products covered under the two directives were now manufactured locally, reflecting growing domestic production capacity.
Adeyeye further disclosed that the reforms had contributed to increased foreign direct investment, with joint ventures and technology transfer arrangements involving companies from India, South Korea and Turkey.
She noted that the Presidential Executive Order on Local Production had further strengthened the policy direction and provided additional support for NAFDAC’s regulatory framework aimed at encouraging domestic manufacturing.
The NAFDAC Director-General called for continued collaboration among government agencies, investors, manufacturers and other stakeholders to consolidate the gains recorded in the sector.
She reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to maintaining a market-friendly regulatory environment that protects public health while creating opportunities for investment, innovation and increased local production of health-related products.
Adeyeye said sustained regulatory efficiency and collaboration would be critical to strengthening Nigeria’s health products manufacturing ecosystem and positioning the country as a more attractive destination for investment.
