Nigeria WHO Maturity Level 4 target nears as NAFDAC closes 27 of 57 indicators, sustaining ML3 status for medicines and vaccines regulation

Nigeria WHO Maturity Level 4 achievement is moving closer as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) confirmed it has completed 27 of the 57 indicators required for the highest global regulatory classification.

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NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed this in Abuja during a joint press briefing with the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN).

She said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reaffirmed Nigeria’s Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for regulating medicines and vaccines, effective June 30, 2025, after a rigorous re-benchmarking exercise and follow-up development plan meetings earlier this year.

Nigeria remains the first national regulatory authority in Africa to sustain ML3, positioning it as a continental leader in oversight and quality assurance.

Achieving Maturity Level 4 would place Nigeria among the world’s top-performing regulatory systems, granting WHO Listed Authority status and boosting international confidence in Nigerian-approved medical products.

“ML4 will allow local manufacturers to trade NAFDAC-approved products globally, improve public health, enhance Nigeria’s image, create jobs, and strengthen universal health coverage,” Adeyeye said.

PCN Registrar, Ibrahim Ahmed, highlighted that the process has improved collaboration and communication between the two agencies, ensuring unified strategic decisions that benefit Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape as a whole.

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With 30 indicators left to close, Nigeria’s regulatory authorities say they are determined to push forward, signalling renewed hope for the nation’s healthcare sector and its standing in the global pharmaceutical community.