By Joy Odor Abuja, Nigeria
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to deepen cooperation in food safety, quality control, and emergency food assistance across Nigeria.
The agreement, sealed on Tuesday at NAFDAC headquarters in Abuja, aimed to fast-track WFP food disposal requests, strengthen capacity-building initiatives, and ensure technical collaboration to protect public health and combat malnutrition.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye in her address during the meeting, described the pact as a decisive step toward safeguarding lives and ensuring that food consumed in Nigeria meets the highest safety standards.
“This partnership is about saving lives. NAFDAC’s mandate to regulate and verify food safety will never be compromised, and this MoU allows us to leverage our strengths with WFP for mutual growth and sustainability,” Prof. Adeyeye said.
She praised WFP’s role in responding to emergencies, restoring stability, and providing food assistance in conflict and disaster-hit communities, while reiterating that the agency would enforce strict compliance with quality parameters for all food entering or produced in the country.
Earlier, the WFP Deputy Country Director (Operations), Mr. Serigne Loum, noted that since its operations began in Nigeria in 2016, the organisation has provided life-saving food aid to vulnerable populations, particularly in insurgency-affected regions.
“Over 90% of the food we distribute is sourced locally, and NAFDAC’s oversight is critical to ensuring that it is safe and nutritious,” Loum said, adding that the MoU would open new opportunities for innovation in Nigeria’s fight against hunger.
The WFP has expanded its reach from the North-East to also address food insecurity in the North-West, with a focus on promoting nutrition and resilience in affected communities.
Both organisations pledged to share knowledge, best practices, and technical expertise to enhance Nigeria’s food safety systems and deliver timely humanitarian aid to those in need.
