The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned operators and manufacturers in the Kano Free Trade Zone against producing substandard goods that could damage Nigeria’s global rating.

The agency’s Kano Coordinator, Kassim Ibrahim, spoke during a two-day investors’ meeting themed: “Strengthening partnership for efficient service delivery in the Free Trade Zone.” He emphasized that NAFDAC currently holds a Maturity Level 3 (ML3) rating from the World Health Organization, a status that could be jeopardized by unsafe or low-quality products.

“Any substandard product produced for domestic use or export undermines both NAFDAC and Nigeria’s credibility in global markets,” Ibrahim said. He urged manufacturers to strictly comply with safety, quality, and efficacy standards, whether products are sold locally or abroad.

Ibrahim added that NAFDAC plans to conduct unannounced inspections in the zone to strengthen regulatory oversight and curb malpractice.

Representing NEPZA, the Head of the Kano Free Trade Zone, Richard Bassey, reported that the zone generated N18.8 billion in revenue over 10 months, with N17 billion from Customs and N1.8 billion directly from the zone. The forum highlighted efforts to eliminate operational bottlenecks and improve efficiency in the Free Trade Zone.