Customs, NAFDAC Inaugurates Implementation Committee of Signed 2024 MoU.

By Joe Njoku,
Global Freight News.

The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, has paid an official working visit to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojo Adeyeye, at office in Abuja, to formally inaugurate a joint implementation committee aim at enforcing the terms of a strategic Memorandum of understanding signed between the two agencies in 2024.

The visit which took place on Wednesday 9th July, 2025, was a dire step forward in translating the MoU into actionable programmes, with both the legal Adviser to the Customs Service, Mr Smart Akande and NAFDAC representative, Olakunle Olaniyan, present to reinforce the institutionnel commitment behind the move. Sometime in November 14th 2024, the MoU was signed during the second day of the CGC’s Annual Conference held in Abuja, when the two agencies officially agreed to deepen collaboration against the influx of illicit pharmaceutical products and harmful substances in the country.

Speaking during the visit, CGC Adeniyi reaffirmed the Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to the collaboration, noting that the constitution of the implementation committee represents the next critical step in realising the spirit and letter of the agreement.

Commending her commitment to foster collaboration, the Service Boss said ,’Every time we meet, your position has always been for us to come together and deepen collaboration. This implementation committee will drive our shared vision to protect Nigerians from harmful, unregulated substances.”

CGC Adeniyi further disclosed that the Terms of Reference of the MoU had already been developed to guide the committee’s work, including the development of a joint work plan, coordination of communication and training programmes, harmonisation of operational standards, monitoring and evaluation, and the identification of challenges with actionable solutions.

He also expressed optimism that the committee’s work would provide measurable outcomes that benefit public health and national security, adding that the agreement remains legally binding and governed by Nigerian law, as captured in the document’s provisions.

On the part of the NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Adeyeye, expressed satisfaction with the pace of progress, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the full implementation of the MoU.

Adeyeye said that regulatory cooperation with Customs was central to efforts to ride the country of fake, substandard, and harmful substances, and pledged to give the committee every support needed to succeed.
According to her, the inauguration of the committee serves as a strong shift from dialogue to action that will strengthen national controls, improve operational synergy, and protect the health and safety of Nigerians.

The committee, which draws membership from both agencies, is chaired by Olakunle Olaniyan of NAFDAC and Smart Akande, the Director Legal Services/ Legal Adviser to Nigeria Customs Service as Deputy Chairman amongst other representative from the two agencies.