Nigeria has become the 34th African Union member state to ratify the African Medicine Agency (AMA) Treaty, according to the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Onyebuchi Ezigbo. The ratification took place in Abuja, marking a significant step in the continent’s efforts to regulate medicines and pharmaceutical products.
The AMA Treaty, established in 2016, aims to create a unified regulatory framework for medicines across Africa. It seeks to enhance public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and quality of medicines available on the continent. Nigeria’s ratification follows a series of regional and national efforts to align with international standards.
NAFDAC has been at the forefront of these initiatives, working closely with other African nations to harmonize regulatory practices. The agency has previously supported the development of the AMA Treaty and has played a key role in promoting regional cooperation in pharmaceutical regulation. The ratification is expected to strengthen the continent’s capacity to monitor and control the medicines supply chain.
The treaty was signed by 44 African countries, with the goal of creating a single regulatory body to oversee medicine production and distribution. Nigeria’s ratification brings the number of signatories closer to the required threshold for the treaty to become operational. The process highlights the growing commitment of African nations to address public health challenges through collective action.
