Tinubu congratulates NAFDAC for retaining WHO maturity level 3 status
President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on retaining the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
The WHO reaffirmed NAFDAC’s status after a re-benchmarking exercise held from May 28 to 30, 2025, confirming that the agency maintains a “stable, well-functioning, and integrated” regulatory system for medicines and vaccines (non-producing).
NAFDAC first achieved the ML3 status in 2022, becoming the first national regulatory authority in Africa to reach the milestone.
The latest recognition follows a formal review in November 2024 and five Institutional Development Plan meetings between February and April 2025 to assess corrective measures.
Commending the agency’s performance, Tinubu said: “NAFDAC has once again proven that Nigeria can meet and sustain the highest international standards in health regulation. This is not just a victory for the agency but for the entire nation.”
He praised the management and staff for their “professionalism, consistency, and dedication to safeguarding public health”, adding that the achievement “strengthens Nigeria’s standing as a reliable partner in global health security and pandemic preparedness”.
The president linked the recognition to his administration’s broader healthcare reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This milestone aligns with our Renewed Hope Agenda to transform our healthcare system. We are upgrading over 17,000 primary health centres, improving maternal care, training 120,000 health workers, and expanding national health insurance coverage,” he said.
Tinubu also pledged continued support for the pharmaceutical sector. “We will work with credible partners to boost local manufacturing, attract investment, and ensure the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and vaccines. Our goal is clear — Nigeria will achieve WHO’s Maturity Level 4, the pinnacle of regulatory excellence.”
