Writing By Bello Wakili ; Editing By Godwin Duru
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for retaining the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement, said the WHO re-benchmarking exercise, conducted between May 28 and May 30, 2025, assessed NAFDAC against internationally recognised regulatory standards.
The agency first attained the ML3 rating in 2022, becoming the first National Regulatory Authority in Africa to achieve the milestone for non-producing countries.
The latest evaluation followed a formal re-benchmarking in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan (IDP) review meetings between February and April 2025 to assess corrective measures.
The WHO commended NAFDAC for maintaining a “stable, well-functioning, and integrated” regulatory system, crediting sustained government investment in strengthening the agency.
President Tinubu praised NAFDAC’s management and staff for their professionalism and dedication, noting that the achievement boosts Nigeria’s standing in global health security and pandemic preparedness.
He said the milestone aligns with his administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform the healthcare system.
Highlighting ongoing efforts, the President cited progress in upgrading over 17,000 primary health centres, improving maternal care and diagnostics in underserved communities, training 120,000 frontline health workers, and doubling national health insurance coverage within three years.
He reaffirmed his commitment to promoting local production of healthcare products and attracting investment in health-related industries.
Tinubu pledged continued support for NAFDAC in its drive to attain WHO’s Maturity Level 4, the highest global standard for regulatory excellence.
Bello Wakili
