The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) have signed a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening consumer protection, improving regulatory coordination and accelerating response to consumer complaints across Nigeria.
Speaking during the signing ceremony at the FCCPC headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the renewed partnership would deepen collaboration between both agencies in protecting Nigerians from unsafe products and exploitative market practices.
Adeyeye particularly commended FCCPC Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, describing him as responsive and committed to consumer welfare.
According to her, recent engagements with the FCCPC leadership demonstrated a sense of urgency needed to tackle consumer protection issues effectively.
She disclosed that on separate occasions when complaints were escalated to Bello, swift interventions were made and the affected businesses immediately took corrective actions.
“That is the way it is supposed to be,” she said, stressing that Nigerian consumers deserve the same level of protection available in advanced economies.
The NAFDAC boss explained that while the agency’s statutory role focuses on regulating products such as food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices, the broader objective remains the protection of the people who use them.
“It is people that use those products, and that is where the consumer comes in. Consumers have the right to complain so that NAFDAC’s work can be effective,” she said.
Adeyeye also emphasised that regulatory partnerships must move beyond ceremonial agreements, warning that memoranda without implementation deliver little value.
Earlier, Bello said the renewed MoU would improve coordination in areas where consumer rights enforcement intersects with product safety regulation.
He noted that the agreement would strengthen information sharing, facilitate joint investigations and ensure quicker resolution of consumer complaints.
“For consumers, the benefits are clear. There will be more straightforward pathways for lodging complaints, faster resolution of issues and stronger enforcement where standards are not met,” Bello said.
According to him, stronger consumer protection frameworks are essential for improving market confidence, promoting fair competition and protecting public trust in regulated products and services.
However, Bello stressed that the success of the agreement would ultimately depend on sustained implementation and institutional commitment.
“The real task lies in implementation. The systems established here must be used actively, reviewed regularly and strengthened where necessary,” he said.
The renewed collaboration comes amid increasing scrutiny of product safety, deceptive marketing and consumer rights enforcement in Nigeria’s rapidly expanding consumer market.
