The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has renewed its existing partnership with the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to protect consumers.
This is just as the Director General of the NAFDAC, Prof. Mojosola Adeyeye, applauded the leadership of the FCCPC, especially, its Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunji Bello, for his responsiveness and commitment to protecting consumers.
Adeyeye spoke on Wednesday during the signing of a renewed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between NAFDAC and the FCCPC at the Commission’s headquarters, Abuja.
The NAFDAC boss, according to a statement by the Director, Corporate Affairs, FCCPC, Ondaje Ijagwu, said recent engagements with the FCCPC leadership had shown a level of urgency that reflected the seriousness required in consumer protection.
She noted that, on two occasions when she raised complaints with Bello, he responded almost immediately and the affected business took corrective action.
“That is the way it is supposed to be,” she said, adding that Nigerians should receive the same level of protection available to consumers in other parts of the world.
She said the renewed MoU would strengthen collaboration between both agencies in safeguarding consumers and ensuring the safety, quality and efficacy of regulated products. Although NAFDAC’s mandate focuses on products, she stressed that the ultimate concern remains the people who use them.
“It is people that use those products, and that is where the consumer comes in,” she said. “Consumers have the right to complain so that NAFDAC’s work can be effective.”
She also praised Bello’s willingness to collaborate, saying partnerships must go beyond signed documents. According to her, an MoU has little value unless it is backed by practical action.
Earlier, Bello said the agreement would improve coordination in areas where consumer protection and product safety responsibilities overlap.
He explained that while the FCCPC protects consumers from unfair, deceptive and exploitative market practices, NAFDAC regulates the safety and quality of food, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices, chemicals and other regulated products.
He said the renewed MoU would support better information sharing, faster complaint handling, joint investigations and deeper technical collaboration between the agencies.
“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.
He added that effective regulation strengthens market confidence and fair competition, but noted that the success of the agreement would depend on implementation.
“The real task lies in implementation,” he said. “The systems established here must be used actively, reviewed regularly and strengthened where necessary.”
Bello reaffirmed the FCCPC’s commitment to working with NAFDAC and other institutions to protect consumers and promote fair, transparent and efficient markets across Nigeria.
