FG Moves To End Food Export Irregularities, Unlock Healthcare Value Chain

The Federal Government has intensified efforts to end food export malpractices while harnessing the healthcare value chain for effective transformation

Naijaonpoint reports that this was the highlight of courtesy visit of the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, along with the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, to the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment (FMITI), Jumoke Oduwole.

The two ministries identified key areas of collaboration, including the regulation of food exports, the role of NAFDAC in enabling trade across borders, and the unlocking of the healthcare value chain.

A statement from the Ministry of Trades’s spokesman, Adebayo Thomas, said the efforts were aimed at supporting President Bola Tinubu’s agenda towards transforming the economy.

Professor Pate said the visit was aimed at fostering collaboration between the two ministries. He noted that while the two ministries may not have close ties, some trades require certification of NAFDAC before crossing Nigeria’s border.

“This meeting is bringing two sectors that are ordinarily not closely connected. But there are specific things that have prompted to reach out, which has to do with the exportation of food and its regulation.

“The second element is the role of the regulatory body, NAFDAC, in constraining or enabling the trade that we have across various borders.

“The third issue is the regulatory function links to our efforts to unlock the healthcare value chain.

“These are issues that have been lingering, and I thought we should use this opportunity to come together since we are all on the same team,” he said.

Oduwole promised effective collaboration with the Ministry of Health and NAFDAC to ensure areas of concern are addressed

“I was briefed about the draft policy and medical devices of syringe and needles manufacturing in Nigeria.

“We have to identify the areas and resolutions, and to identify areas of the ministry’s concern on the draft policy document, and were we supposed to emit in further meeting with my ministry.

“The meeting is to discuss how to deliberate on the merit and demerit of the policy, as well as the issues of manufacturing.

“They are indeed under the eight-point agenda of Mr President,” she stated.

On her part, NAFDAC DG, Professor Adeyeye, emphasized the need for effective regulation to avoid the embarrassment of rejection of Nigerian goods.

“We need to change our mindset in the area of exportation of goods, and regulatory agencies must regulate effectively,” she said.

The meeting also discussed other pressing issues, including the denomination of permit fees in Naira, the timeline for processing certificates, and private sector participation.