The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has appealed to Nigerian pharmaceutical companies to step up efforts toward local vaccine production, warning that the nation cannot afford to depend on imports in the face of future pandemics.
Speaking in Abuja, NAFDAC Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, cautioned that Nigeria must not wait for another global health emergency before taking decisive action, recalling how the country relied heavily on international donors during the COVID-19 crisis.
She explained that the agency has restructured its operations to enhance efficiency and transparency, establishing a Directorate for Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices in November 2024 to align with global regulatory standards.
Adeyeye noted that NAFDAC achieved the World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) for medicines and imported vaccines in 2022, a key requirement for countries seeking to produce WHO-prequalified vaccines. The agency, she added, is now working toward attaining ML3 for locally manufactured vaccines.
She highlighted that NAFDAC remains the only regulatory agency in sub-Saharan Africa with an in-house laboratory for vaccines, biologics, and medical devices, unlike South Africa, which depends on outsourced facilities. While the agency has met most WHO indicators for vaccine lot release, Adeyeye said local production is essential to complete the benchmarking process.
Expressing optimism that vaccine production would begin before the end of her tenure, Adeyeye stressed the need for Nigeria to reduce reliance on foreign countries for essential medical supplies. She noted that the country has capable scientists and a supportive policy environment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to promote local manufacturing.
Also speaking, the Director of Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices Registration and Regulatory Affairs, Khadijah Ade-Abolade, said the Federal Government has introduced policies and provided support to kick-start local vaccine manufacturing. She confirmed that NAFDAC’s regulatory framework, covering market authorization, inspections, clinical trials oversight, and post-market surveillance, is fully operational and ready for use once production begins.
Adeyeye concluded that Nigeria could start with “fill and finish” vaccine production while developing full-scale manufacturing capabilities, urging private investors to seize the opportunity to strengthen national health security.
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