By Joy Onu, Abuja
Strengthening ties between Nigeria and Bangladesh in the pharmaceutical sector took center stage this week as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Nigeria, His Excellency Mr. Miah Md. Kabir, visited the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) headquarters in Abuja. The meeting with NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, explored strategic avenues for collaboration in trade, technological exchange, and drug and vaccine security.
During the visit, Mr. Kabir expressed his country’s readiness to partner with NAFDAC to advance pharmaceutical development while boosting trade and investment between the two nations. Highlighting Bangladesh’s population of over 180 million, he pointed out the vast opportunities that could arise from stronger bilateral relations, emphasizing Nigeria’s strategic role as a key partner in the region.
Prof. Adeyeye welcomed the initiative, reaffirming NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the availability of safe, high-quality, and effective medicines across Nigeria. She noted that the country’s pharmaceutical industry has made remarkable strides, with over two hundred local companies meeting international standards under her leadership over the past eight years.
“The growth of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector is largely attributed to NAFDAC’s robust regulatory framework and enforcement mechanisms,” she said, highlighting the agency’s continuous post-market surveillance that ensures only compliant products remain in circulation. Substandard medicines, she explained, are promptly removed to safeguard public health.
The Director-General also drew attention to NAFDAC’s World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 accreditation, a recognition that has significantly increased investor confidence and attracted international collaborations. She encouraged Bangladeshi investors to consider establishing pharmaceutical manufacturing operations in Nigeria, particularly in vaccine production, leveraging the country’s large population and growing market potential.
Prof. Adeyeye further emphasized NAFDAC’s state-of-the-art vaccines and biologics laboratory in Lagos, one of the few of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa, as a testament to Nigeria’s readiness to support advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
The visit underscored a shared vision between Nigeria and Bangladesh to expand trade, enhance pharmaceutical technology, and ensure access to safe and effective medicines, paving the way for deeper bilateral cooperation in healthcare and industry.
