July 11, 2025 | Abuja, Nigeria — The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) have officially inaugurated a joint Implementation Committee to enforce the terms of a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2024.
The inauguration ceremony, which took place on Wednesday, was led by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, who visited the Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Moji Adeyeye, at her office in Abuja. The event marked a significant step towards implementing the MoU, aimed at combating the influx of illicit pharmaceutical products and harmful substances into Nigeria.
During the visit, Adeniyi reiterated the Customs Service’s dedication to the collaboration, emphasizing that the formation of the Implementation Committee was crucial to translating the MoU into tangible actions. He acknowledged NAFDAC’s proactive stance in fostering cooperation and affirmed that the committee would focus on joint efforts to protect Nigerians from unsafe and unregulated substances.
“We are now shifting from dialogue to action. This committee will drive our shared vision to protect public health and national security,” Adeniyi said.
The MoU, signed on November 14, 2024, during the second day of the CGC’s Annual Conference in Abuja, outlined several key areas for cooperation, including developing a joint work plan, harmonizing operational standards, and creating monitoring and evaluation systems. The committee is also tasked with addressing challenges and proposing actionable solutions.
NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Adeyeye, expressed satisfaction with the committee’s inauguration and emphasized that the regulatory cooperation between NAFDAC and Customs was vital in combating fake, substandard, and harmful products in the country. She also assured full support for the committee’s activities.
The newly inaugurated committee comprises representatives from both agencies, with Olakunle Olaniran of NAFDAC serving as the chair, and Smart Akande, Legal Adviser to the Nigeria Customs Service, as Deputy Chairman. The committee’s mandate is to ensure that the collaborative efforts between the two agencies result in measurable outcomes that will protect the health and safety of the Nigerian public.
