The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reaffirmed its mandate to independently test and monitor all medicines and vaccines entering Nigeria under international bilateral agreements, utilizing advanced track-and-trace technology to ensure public safety.

Addressing recent public health provisions, NAFDAC Director-General Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye emphasized that all government-backed pharmaceutical products and vaccines undergo rigorous evaluation for quality, safety, and efficacy.

The assurance comes as new United States-Nigerian Government medical supplies arrive to bridge gaps left by the departure of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), specifically targeting HIV/AIDS treatment.

The agency noted its established precedent in handling international medical donations, pointing to the COVID-19 pandemic when every vaccine distributed in Nigeria was tested at the Yaba Vaccine, Biologics and Medical Devices Laboratory, even after receiving World Health Organization approvals. Similarly, anti-retroviral, tuberculosis, and malaria (ATM) drugs supplied by the Global Fund undergo annual testing by the regulatory body.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Ali Pate underscored that regulatory reliance frameworks such as expedited approvals granted to products manufactured in the United States and vetted by the US FDA do not diminish NAFDAC’s statutory authority.

The agency noted that it retains full power to inspect facilities, conduct risk-based testing, release vaccine lots, and execute post-market surveillance. Donations manufactured outside the United States face comprehensive laboratory testing locally.

To prevent supply chain diversion and counterfeiting, NAFDAC is deploying the GS1 technology-driven Track and Trace system.

Having successfully tracked COVID-19 vaccines and expanded the platform to monitor narcotics and maternal-child health commodities, the agency will apply the same traceability infrastructure to all products arriving under the USG-Nigeria agreement via the NAFDAC Traceability Information System (TIS).

The agency also reiterated that safeguarding the health of Nigerians remains its primary operational directive, ensuring that international cooperation strictly aligns with national safety standards.