August 7, 2025 – Abuja, Nigeria
Nigeria has once again achieved a significant milestone in global health regulation, as the World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s continued attainment of Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
The confirmation, which came into effect as of June 30, 2025, reaffirms NAFDAC’s capacity to run a stable, well-functioning, and integrated regulatory system. This recognition follows WHO’s re-benchmarking exercise held in Abuja and Lagos between November 25 and 29, 2024, alongside five follow-up institutional development meetings held between February and May 2025.
These sessions were aimed at evaluating NAFDAC’s implementation of WHO’s key recommendations in its journey toward completing the re-benchmarking process.
“This achievement marks a significant regulatory milestone for Nigeria,” said Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC. “We are proud to remain the first National Regulatory Authority in Africa to maintain WHO ML3 status, a testament to our leadership in regulatory oversight on the continent.”
Prof. Adeyeye acknowledged the efforts of NAFDAC staff across the country, noting that their technical expertise, commitment, and resilience were instrumental in achieving this feat.
She emphasized that the agency remains committed to strengthening Nigeria’s position in the global health space through continuous improvement in regulatory standards and the safeguarding of public health.
The WHO Maturity Level 3 status places Nigeria among countries recognized for robust and effective systems for ensuring the quality, safety, and efficacy of medicin
es and vaccines.
