Tinubu congratulates NAFDAC on WHO level 3 status

President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for maintaining the World Health Organisation’s Maturity Level 3 ranking, a recognition of Nigeria’s robust regulatory capacity for medicines and vaccines.

The rating was confirmed after a WHO re-benchmarking exercise conducted from May 28 to May 30, 2025, which assessed NAFDAC’s performance against international regulatory standards.

NAFDAC first attained ML3 status in 2022, becoming the first national regulatory authority in Africa to reach the milestone for the regulation of medicines and vaccines in non-producing countries.

The latest evaluation followed a formal re-benchmarking in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan (IDP) review meetings held between February and April 2025 to monitor corrective actions.

According to the WHO’s verdict, “NAFDAC has successfully maintained a regulatory system that operates as a stable, well-functioning, and integrated framework for regulating medicines and vaccines (non-producing).

This achievement results from investment by the Government of Nigeria in strengthening the regulatory system.”

In a statement on Monday titled ‘President Tinubu congratulates NAFDAC on maintaining WHO maturity level 3 for regulation of medicines and vaccines’ and issued by his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended NAFDAC’s management and staff for their professionalism and consistency.

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The President described the milestone as “a boost to Nigeria’s credibility in global health security and pandemic preparedness.”

Reaffirming his government’s commitment, the President said, “We will continue to enhance Nigeria’s capacity to ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and vaccines in line with international best practices. This milestone complements our Renewed Hope Agenda to transform the healthcare system.”

He highlighted ongoing health sector reforms, noting that the administration is “upgrading over 17,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide, improving maternal care and diagnostics in underserved communities, training 120,000 frontline health workers, and working to double national health insurance coverage within three years.”

Tinubu pledged continued collaboration with credible partners, development agencies, and donor organisations to boost Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, attract health industry investments, expand local manufacturing, and support NAFDAC’s drive towards WHO’s highest Maturity Level 4 standard.