The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has firmly reiterated that there will be no leniency in enforcing the regulations governing the export of processed and semi-processed foods from Nigeria. The agency’s director general, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, underscored NAFDAC’s unwavering commitment to maintaining strict adherence to these regulations, which are vital for ensuring compliance across all aspects of the food export industry, including manufacturing, importation, distribution, and sales.
Prof. Adeyeye emphasized that NAFDAC’s resolute stance is in response to the rejection of certain Nigerian food exports abroad, as well as concerns voiced by stakeholders in the cocoa industry regarding the NAFDAC Export Regulation 2024, currently open for public comment on the agency’s website. She clarified that these regulations are rooted in the agency’s foundational laws and clearly delineate acceptable practices, including the penalties for non-compliance. These measures are essential for safeguarding Nigeria’s competitiveness in global markets, where strict adherence to trade laws is crucial, especially given that some Nigerian products have been flagged by importing countries.
In a statement released by NAFDAC’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, Prof. Adeyeye, during a consultative meeting with the Cocoa Processors Association of Nigeria (COPAN) and other stakeholders in the food export sector, reassured the cocoa stakeholders that the draft regulations were shared publicly to encourage a collaborative and inclusive dialogue, and are not yet finalized.
The consultative session in Lagos brought together key players, including representatives from the Network of Practicing Non-oil Exporters of Nigeria (NPNEN), the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), among others. Prof. Adeyeye highlighted that the purpose of the meeting was to create a platform for discussing critical trade facilitation issues and to foster a unified approach between the agency and stakeholders in the export value chain, for the collective benefit of the country.
She further stated that NAFDAC is well within its mandate to enforce export regulations, which are among several that are in the process of being formalized into law. NAFDAC, now recognized as a World Health Organization (WHO) ML3 Regulatory Agency, has already updated and gazetted 21 regulations covering various aspects of its regulatory activities.
Prof. Adeyeye advised food exporters to register their products with NAFDAC to ensure compliance and avoid legal repercussions. She lamented that some Nigerian products have already been placed on the red list of certain importing nations due to poor regulatory oversight and the lack of certification by NAFDAC, which has adversely affected Nigeria’s position in international trade.
Reflecting on a previous engagement with export stakeholders at the Digital Bridge Institute in Lagos in May 2024, she noted that both industry participants and regulatory agencies, including other government bodies, had agreed to collaborate in advancing the export of regulated products for the benefit of all stakeholders and the nation as a whole.
Prof. Adeyeye stressed that the current engagement was aimed at addressing concerns, bridging knowledge gaps, and fostering the necessary collaboration to elevate Nigeria’s regulated product exports to the desired standards in international trade.
She clarified that the regulation of exports is not a revenue-generation endeavor for NAFDAC but rather a means to facilitate smooth trade between Nigerian exporters and importing countries by adhering to international standards, thereby reducing the rejection of Nigerian food exports in markets such as the EU and the U.S.
The DG assured participants that once a product is registered with NAFDAC, the agency’s regulatory process becomes more streamlined, requiring fewer inspections and facilitating a smoother export process. She encouraged exporters to have confidence in their products, emphasizing that the primary goal is to ensure that Nigerian products are not rejected in international markets.
Prof. Adeyeye also mentioned that NAFDAC would begin by supporting cocoa producers, especially those already registered with the agency, while also accommodating those who are not yet registered.
Stakeholders, including Olusola Obajimu, DG of NACCIMA, and Yusuf Isiaka, Managing Director of Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc, representing COPAN, expressed satisfaction with NAFDAC’s regulatory approach, acknowledging that it aligns with the broader goal of achieving global standards in food exports. They pledged their support to ensure Nigeria boosts its foreign exchange earnings through increased non-oil exports.
