Senate Advances Landmark Bill to Modernise Nigeria’s Food and Drug Regulation
The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step towards overhauling the nation’s regulatory framework for food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, passing a crucial bill for its second reading. This proposed legislation, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, Etc.) Act, Cap. F33, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and for Related Matters, 2026 (SB.952),” aims to establish a comprehensive, modern, and unified legal regime to safeguard public health and enhance Nigeria’s standing in global markets.
Sponsored by Senator Suleiman Umar Sadiq (APC, Kwara North), the bill seeks to replace decades-old laws with a single, contemporary statute capable of addressing the complexities of today’s food, pharmaceutical, and healthcare sectors. Senator Sadiq highlighted during the plenary session, presided over by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, that the current laws are ill-equipped to handle advancements in biotechnology, vaccines, biosimilars, sophisticated medical devices, AI-assisted diagnostics, and the burgeoning online pharmaceutical commerce. He stressed the government’s fundamental responsibility to ensure the safety, efficacy, and quality of products available to citizens, particularly in light of increasingly sophisticated criminal networks involved in counterfeit production.
The proposed legislation broadens the scope of regulation beyond the existing focus on food, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices. It will now encompass processed and packaged foods, animal feeds, medical products, active pharmaceutical ingredients, in-vitro diagnostic devices, vaccines, tobacco products, chemicals, packaged water, and home-care products. A key innovation is the introduction of robust provisions for pre-market evaluation, post-marketing surveillance, continuous safety monitoring, supply-chain traceability, and mandatory product recalls. For the first time, the bill also includes detailed statutory provisions for clinical trials, performance evaluations, and human intervention studies.
Furthermore, the bill institutionalises internationally recognised quality assurance standards such as Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP), Good Distribution Practice (GDP), Good Storage Practice (GSP), and Good Clinical Practice (GCP). This shift from post-production inspection to integrated quality assurance throughout the product lifecycle is expected to significantly bolster consumer protection. Enforcement procedures are also being modernised, granting stronger statutory powers for inspection, investigation, and product seizure, while ensuring due process and accountability.
Lawmakers overwhelmingly supported the bill, recognising its potential to not only protect public health but also to boost Nigeria’s competitiveness by aligning its regulatory framework with global best practices and facilitating international cooperation. Contributions from Senators Diket Plang and Musa Garba underscored the importance of quality control in food processing and the need to integrate traditional medicine practitioners into the regulatory framework, respectively. Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin commended Senator Sadiq’s professional insight and noted extensive consultations with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which supports the reforms. The bill was subsequently referred to the relevant Senate committee for further legislative action, with a report anticipated within four weeks.
