NAFDAC grants product renewal waiver to Nigerian businesses to boost economic transformation
By Cynthia Ezekwe
The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has granted a product renewal waiver to Nano Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NMSMEs) to enable them act as catalyst for Nigeria’s economic transformation.
Mojisola Adeyeye, NAFDAC director general, announced the waiver at a meeting held recently with operators of NMSMEs in Lagos, where she noted that NAFDAC would continue to drive collaboration and understanding between NMSME operators and regulatory authorities with a view to empowering them in terms of the next step for their businesses.
The DG affirmed the commitment of the agency to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the business community, adding that the gains and positive impact of subjecting their processes and products to regulatory scrutiny are immense, and would protect their businesses.
Making reference to a statement by Sayo Akintola, the resident media consultant to NAFDAC, in Lagos, Adeyeye said that the NMSMEs drive the economy of Nigeria, noting that Nigeria had a recession few years ago and came out of it quickly despite the challenges of the mega industry.
She emphasised the commercial benefits and opportunities that abound for products that have been subjected to regulatory scrutiny, describing them as immense. One of such is the possibility of exporting such goods.
“With exportation comes quality. Without being quality-conscious, exported products will be rejected. We are here to work with you to take your trading to the level that you want. I want us to also think not of just what we consume here but what we can export,’’ Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC DG also disclosed that the agency was in discussion with the United Kingdom Department of Business and Trade to build a bilateral relationship whereby Nigerian products exported to the United Kingdom would be of quality, having been registered and certified by NAFDAC.
She further called on operators of NMSMEs to focus on one product that is well accepted by the consumers rather than manufacturing many products at the same time whereby none would be doing well in the market, while assuring business owners of the continued support of the agency, emphasising that the staff of the agency are being trained not to compromise, and to hold customers with high esteem based on quality management system.