Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has extended regulatory oversight to blood and blood products, aligning the country with World Health Organisation recommendations and international practice.
Director-General Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said the step protects patients across the transfusion chain, from donor assessment through testing, processing, storage, transportation and clinical use. Blood and blood products are classified as essential medicines that must be consistently available with assured quality, safety and affordability.
“These capabilities provide a strong foundation for the effective regulation of blood and blood products,” Adeyeye said, referring to the agency’s regulatory infrastructure.
NAFDAC holds WHO Maturity Level 3 status, has completed the WHO Global Benchmarking ML3 re-assessment, obtained WHO prequalification for its drug laboratory and operates internationally accredited laboratory systems. The agency created a dedicated Vaccines, Biologicals and Medical Devices Registration and Regulation Directorate in 2024 and has an ultra-modern laboratory facility in development.
Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Senegal and Rwanda have already placed blood products under their national regulatory authorities, according to the agency.
Why it matters: Bringing blood under drug-grade regulation closes one of the least policed safety gaps in Nigerian hospital care.
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