NAFDAC Calls on Pharmaceutical Companies to Invest in Local Vaccine Manufacturing.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has urged Nigerian pharmaceutical companies to invest in local vaccine manufacturing to strengthen the country’s preparedness for future public health emergencies.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, made the appeal in a statement on Sunday, emphasizing that Nigeria must not wait for another pandemic before developing essential health infrastructure and production capacity.

She noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria’s heavy dependence on international donors exposed the nation’s vulnerability—a situation that should not be repeated.

“The country must not be caught unprepared again,” she cautioned.

Adeyeye explained that NAFDAC had enhanced its regulatory framework for vaccines, biologics, and medical devices through restructuring and participation in the World Health Organisation’s global benchmarking programme for national regulatory authorities.

She highlighted that the agency achieved WHO Maturity Level 3 status in 2022 for medicines and imported vaccines and had since created a dedicated unit for vaccines and biologics, as well as a specialised directorate to align Nigeria’s vaccine regulation with international standards.

The Director-General expressed optimism that Nigeria would begin producing its own vaccines before the end of her tenure—an achievement she described as a personal commitment and a key step toward national pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

Adeyeye revealed that NAFDAC had established clear guidelines for epidemic and pandemic preparedness, stressing the need for Nigeria to reduce dependence on foreign aid during global health crises.

She challenged local drug manufacturers to take bold action, asserting that Nigeria must assume full responsibility for its vaccine production capabilities.

“To produce WHO-prequalified vaccines, a nation must attain at least Maturity Level 3 in regulatory oversight—an achievement Nigeria has already secured for imported medicines and vaccines,” Adeyeye said.

According to her, NAFDAC has met eight of the nine WHO Global Benchmarking Tool modules, with local vaccine manufacturing being the final step to complete the process.

She also noted that NAFDAC remains the only regulatory body in sub-Saharan Africa with an in-house laboratory for vaccines, biologics, and medical devices, unlike South Africa’s outsourced model.

“Last year, WHO inspectors assessed our capacity for vaccine lot release and quality control,” Adeyeye added. “However, local production is essential to enable full facility inspections and complete WHO evaluation.”

She concluded by expressing confidence that Nigeria is close to meeting the final requirement for full WHO recognition. “Once local vaccine production begins, we will achieve the last milestone. I am hopeful it will happen very soon,” she said.