Minna, Niger State — The North Central Zone Director of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Kenneth Azikwe, has issued a strong appeal to stakeholders, urging them to take advantage of the agency’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Registration Scheme.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting in Minna, Azikwe explained that the scheme is designed to support entrepreneurs in registering low-risk food products with minimal facilities while ensuring safety and compliance.
Fight Against Fake and Dangerous Drugs
The NAFDAC director further warned against silence in the face of adverse drug reactions. He encouraged stakeholders to report suspicious products through the Net Safety App, noting that every complaint triggers immediate investigation and possible product withdrawal.
“Don’t keep quiet. Report such products using your phone through the app. Once you complain, we have officers watching, and action will follow,” Azikwe stressed.
He also urged participants to use the Green Book app, a digital database of registered products, to verify the authenticity of drugs and regulated items before purchase or use.
Call for Compliance in Chemical Use
Addressing the agrochemical and chemical sectors, Azikwe appealed to operators to secure proper licences and certifications, stressing that regulation of chemical use is vital to public health and safety.
Earlier, the State Coordinator, James Kigbu, applauded stakeholders for turning out in large numbers, describing the meeting as an opportunity to foster dialogue, safety, and responsible business practices.
Stakeholders React
Representatives of key associations, including the Agro-Chemical Association, the Industrial Pharmacy Section of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, and the Supermarket Owners Association, praised NAFDAC for the initiative but raised concerns over the high cost of registration fees.
Other groups represented at the meeting included the Nigeria Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (NASME), the Islamic Medicine and Prophetic Medicine Association, and the National Association of Environmental Health Officers of Nigeria.
The session ended with a renewed call for collaboration between regulators and stakeholders to safeguard public health while supporting small businesses.
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