By Our Correspondent
National News – The Federal Government has strengthened monitoring measures across Nigeria’s free trade zones to stop fake drugs, unsafe food products and substandard consumables from entering local markets.
The decision followed a strategic meeting in Abuja between the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control aimed at improving regulatory oversight and consumer safety.
The agreement was reached during a courtesy visit by NAFDAC Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, to NEPZA Managing Director, Olufemi Ogunyemi.
Both agencies pledged to intensify inspections of pharmaceutical products, cosmetics, food items and other consumables produced within Nigeria’s export processing zones.
Adeyeye explained that the collaboration became necessary because counterfeit drugs and poorly regulated products continue to infiltrate Nigerian markets from different sources.
She stressed that NAFDAC would continue enforcing quality checks, laboratory testing and compliance with approved production standards to protect public health and improve confidence in locally manufactured goods.
According to her, stronger monitoring systems and coordinated inspections would help close existing regulatory gaps within free trade zones.
She added that improved facility management and compliance enforcement would reduce the circulation of fake medicines and unsafe consumables across the country.
Ogunyemi also reaffirmed NEPZA’s commitment to preventing criminal elements from using the zones for illegal trading activities.
He noted that Nigeria currently has 63 free trade zones hosting more than 900 enterprises, making effective regulation essential for economic growth, exports and industrial development.
The NEPZA boss admitted that monitoring activities within the zones remains challenging because of the scale of operations.
However, he assured stakeholders that the authority would fully support NAFDAC in carrying out inspections and enforcing safety regulations.
The meeting ended with the establishment of an eight-member technical committee expected to identify enforcement challenges and recommend practical solutions to improve compliance, quality assurance and coordination across Nigeria’s free trade zones.
