NAFDAC holds stakeholders meeting on ease of doing business

The National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has described Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) as well as Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (SMEDAN) as vital to the economic development of Nigeria.

Acting Director-General, NAFDAC, Mr. Ademola Mogbojuri, who said this at a NAFDAC stakeholders’ consultative forum in Enugu tagged, ‘Ease of doing Business in Nigeria,’

pointed out that MSMEs provide a key factor in promoting private sector development and partnership which equally aid the development of local technology and stimulate indigenous entrepreneurship.

According to Moghojuri, MSMEs also play vital role in creating employment for the teeming population especially the unemployed youth.

The NAFDAC boss, however, said in spite of the vital role of MSMEs, “NAFDAC must not overlook its regulatory role of ensuring that regulated products manufactured by MSMEs comply with relevant quality and safety specifications before they are approved for distribution, sale and use”.

He noted that NAFDAC has put up measures aimed at helping the MSMEs in the ease of doing business in Nigeria, which include 50% reduction in the cost of registration of products for companies with 5 or less than 5 employees.

“Other measures include reduction in registration time to 90 days, fees charged for registration of locally manufactured products are lower than that of imported products.

“We have also discouraged the use of consultants by companies, among others”, he said.

‎He, however, added that in spite of the interventions made by NAFDAC to ensure the ease of doing of business, it is perceived that the agency registration is cumbersome and for this reason, the NAFDAC organised, ‘this forum for dialogue and to have better understanding of the challenges faced by MSMEs in the registration of their products.”

Mogbojuri promised that the consultative meeting will become regular until the challenges faced by MSMEs are eased for improved economic growth.

Speaking at the occasion, NAFDAC coordinator in Enugu, Pharm Chike Obiano, said NAFDAC is desirous to facilitate registration processes and ultimately improve the ease of doing businesses in the country.

Moses Oyediran, Enugu