NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, explained the agency’s position on the matter in a statement on Monday.

She was responding to a BBC report titled “Vital leprosy drugs due in Nigeria after year delay”.

The report had suggested that NAFDAC had either delayed or prevented the importation of essential leprosy treatment.

Adeyeye explained that before any drug could be imported into Nigeria, it must undergo rigorous testing, laboratory checks, and compliance with regulatory requirements.

“This was the case with Rifampicin, the medicine in question, which NAFDAC was accused of delaying.

“The BBC report also highlighted a request from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for NAFDAC to lift its new testing policy to expedite the importation of the medicine.”

Adeyeye clarified that her response was aimed at providing accurate information and dispelling any misinformation circulating regarding the agency’s actions.

NAFDAC, Adeyeye recalled, was established to safeguard public health through a robust legal and regulatory framework, ensuring that only safe, effective and quality medicines were available in Nigeria.

“One of the agency’s key initiatives is the Clean Report of Inspection and Analysis (CRIA) Scheme which ensures that medicines from high-risk countries such as China and India, meet the required quality standards before being exported to Nigeria.

“This policy, in place since 2002 and strengthened in 2020, ensures that medicines imported into Nigeria meet the highest standards.

“A key component of this process is the submission of the Certificate of Pharmaceutical Products (CoPP), a document that verifies that a consignment of medicines has undergone thorough quality checks by the regulatory authority of the exporting country.

“Developed by WHO, the CoPP provides assurance that medicines comply with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and meet safety, quality, and efficacy requirements.”

Adeyeye clarified that the manufacturer of the Rifampicin consignment had failed to provide the necessary CoPP documentation, a critical part of the importation process.

“To address that, WHO requested a waiver for the required documentation, which NAFDAC reviewed.

“Upon receiving the appeal, NAFDAC requested a laboratory evaluation of the Rifampicin consignment from one of its approved CRIA laboratories in India to ensure the product met the necessary quality, safety, and efficacy standards.

“Following satisfactory laboratory results, assurances, and the need to replenish the stock of the medicine for Nigerian patients, NAFDAC granted approval for the Rifampicin shipment to be exported to Nigeria.”

Additionally, Adeyeye stated that NAFDAC was collaborating with local pharmaceutical industries to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines.

She said that the agency was strengthening regulatory systems and building local manufacturing capacity to ensure that quality medicines were available in Nigeria.

Adeyeye reassured the public that NAFDAC would continue to ensure the availability of only safe, efficacious, and quality medicines for distribution, sale, and use within Nigeria.(NAN)

NCDC Director-General, Dr Jide Idris, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

Idris stated that the patient, who was diagnosed in Ondo State, unfortunately succumbed to the disease before the test results confirming the infection were available.

Idris raised an alert on the situation, stressing the need for heightened surveillance and precautionary measures.

He emphasised that the latest case highlighted the persistent threat of Lassa fever in Nigeria and the potential for international transmission.

According to the NCDC’s latest epidemiological report, Nigeria has recorded 2,728 suspected cases and 535 confirmed cases of Lassa fever in 2025, with 98 deaths across 14 states.

“The current case fatality rate stands at 18.3 per cent, indicating the severity of the disease.

“Five states, Ondo 31 per cent, Bauchi 24 per cent, Edo 17 per cent, Taraba 16 per cent, and Ebonyi 3 per cent account for 91 per cent of all confirmed cases.

“The most affected local government areas include Owo, Akure South, Etsako West, Kirfi, Akoko South-West, Bali, Esan North-East, Bauchi, Toro, and Jalingo.”

He said that the confirmed case involved the Nigerian physician, who travelled to the UK on Feb. 19, 2025, and returned on Feb. 27, 2025.

“He was admitted to a private health facility in Ondo State with symptoms suggestive of Lassa fever.

“Samples were taken on Feb. 28, 2025, but the patient passed away on March 1, 2025, before test results were confirmed.

“The NCDC confirmed the diagnosis of Lassa fever on March 4, 2025.

“Investigation revealed that the deceased had visited his fiancée in Edo State before his UK trip and had also met with family and friends.

“Contact tracing efforts have since been launched in both Nigeria and the UK to curb further spread of the disease.”

In response to the case, the NCDC, in collaboration with the Ondo State Ministry of Health, had intensified contact tracing, surveillance, and infection control measures.

“The agency is identifying and monitoring all potential contacts of the deceased, including family members, healthcare workers, and co-passengers on flights.

“Port Health Services are also enhancing surveillance at entry points, particularly airports, while collaboration with UK health authorities ensures cross-border tracking of potential exposures.”

Idris reiterated public health guidelines to prevent further outbreaks, urging Nigerians to maintain proper hygiene, control rodent populations, and seek early medical intervention for suspected cases.

He emphasised that Lassa fever is a viral hemorrhagic disease primarily spread through contact with food or household items contaminated by the urine, feces, or saliva of infected rodents.

“Human-to-human transmission can also occur, particularly in healthcare settings with inadequate infection prevention and control measures.

“The NCDC continues to monitor disease patterns and deploy rapid response teams to affected areas, with specialised treatment centres providing care for severe cases.

“Public awareness campaigns are ongoing, educating communities on rodent control, food safety, and early symptom reporting.

“In spite of these efforts, Lassa fever remains a significant public health challenge, with high mortality rates and the potential for international spread, as demonstrated by this recent case.” (NAN)