By Godswill Michael
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has joined food regulatory authorities across Africa in efforts to strengthen cooperation and improve food safety systems on the continent.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, led a five-member Nigerian delegation to the Third African Food Regulatory Authorities Forum, held in Cairo, Egypt, from September 30 to October 2, 2026.
The forum was hosted by Egypt’s National Food Safety Authority in partnership with Africa’s Regional Economic Communities, food competent authorities and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation.
Organised by the Global Food Regulatory Science Society under the theme, “Advancing Africa’s Integrated Food Regulatory Future,” the forum brought together heads of food regulatory authorities, representatives of Regional Economic Communities, Codex contact points, development partners and private-sector stakeholders.
Participants discussed regional sanitary and phytosanitary coordination, risk-based oversight, food innovation, laboratory capacity, risk analysis and engagement with the Codex Alimentarius.
The meeting was also expected to produce regulator-led recommendations to support the Food Safety Strategy for Africa and the operationalisation of the Africa Food Safety Agency.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Adeyeye said African regulators needed to deepen collaboration because food safety challenges increasingly transcended national borders.
She said interconnected food systems, food fraud, climate-related challenges, technological innovation and expanding intra-African trade had made greater regulatory cooperation essential.
“Regulators must move beyond working alongside one another to working with one another,” Adeyeye said.
She added, “We are ready to work with fellow African regulators, the African Union Commission and our development partners to advance practical initiatives that will strengthen food regulatory systems in Africa.”
Adeyeye also called for science-based, risk-based and transparent regulatory systems supported by investment in regulatory capacity, laboratory infrastructure, digital technologies, human resources and surveillance.
She urged regulators to promote greater convergence through timely information sharing, mutual learning, stronger analytical capacity and harmonised regulatory requirements.
At the forum, NAFDAC presented Nigeria’s approach to food safety regulation, highlighting its transition from routine control to risk-based regulation and its emphasis on prevention through Good Hygiene Practice, Good Manufacturing Practice and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point.
The agency also highlighted its use of laboratory, surveillance and complaint data as regulatory intelligence, as well as its efforts in traceability, recalls, enforcement and digital regulatory systems, including NAPAMS, PIDCARMS and LIMS.
NAFDAC said it was also preparing for emerging risks associated with climate variability, food fraud and antimicrobial resistance.
The agency said stronger regulatory cooperation and reliance could facilitate safer intra-African trade, in line with its vision of “Safe Food. Resilient Food Systems. Healthier Nigerians.”
Adeyeye reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to contributing its technical expertise and institutional capacity to the continental food safety agenda.
She pledged that NAFDAC would continue to work with other African regulators, the African Union Commission and development partners on initiatives aimed at strengthening food regulatory systems across the continent.