The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has introduced new measures to encourage Medium and Small Scale Enterprises in doing business.
Prof. Moji Adeyeye, the Director General of NAFDAC, made the disclosure in Lafia, Nasarawa State at a workshop organised by NAFDAC for stakeholders and MSMEs on: “Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.”
Adeyeye, represented by Dr. Jimoh Abubakar, the Director of Special Duties in NAFDAC, said the aim of the workshop was to identify challenges stakeholders encountered in registering their​businesses and proffer solutions to them.
Adeyeye acknowledged the importance of MSMEs to the Nigerian economy, adding that a vast majority of products manufactured by MSMEs were regulated by NAFDAC, which necessitated the one day workshop.
She said: “MSMEs play a vital role in the economic development of Nigeria and are known to be the main engine of economic growth. The importance of MSMEs to our economy cannot therefore be overemphasised.
“A vast majority of products manufactured by MSMEs are regulated by NAFDAC.
“The agency therefore plays a key role in ensuring that products manufactured by MSMEs comply with relevant quality and safety specifications before their approval, for distribution, sale and use.”
The director-general enumerated the new measures aimed at encouraging MSMEs as 50 per cent reduction in cost of registration of products for companies with five or fewer employees and reduction in registration timeline to 90 days.
Others are establishment of Small Business Support Desk to guide small business through registration processes and electronic submission of documents to line directorates in Lagos
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Adeyeye also said the agency had initiated NAFDAC Product Registration Outreach to provide interactive engagement and advice on documentation, labelling and other requirements to facilitate the registration process.
She noted that in spite the new measures, many MSMEs still perceived the NAFDAC registration process as cumbersome.
She said: “I assure you that NAFDAC will continue to engage our stakeholders in consultative meetings towards resolving all challenges faced by MSMEs.
“I encourage you to seize the opportunity during the technical session to speak freely so that the objectives of this forum will be achieved.”
Also, Josephine Dayilim, the Zonal Coordinator of NAFDAC, North Central Zone, said the policy of the Muhammadu Buhari administration was to ensure that MSMEs as major non-oil revenue earners were viable.
Dayilim said: “The proliferation of MSMEs is on the increase and the need to address the bottlenecks encountered during processing of establishments products registration in the states.”
Dayilim advised stakeholders and MSMEs to avoid sharp practices and to adhere strictly to NAFDAC regulations and guidelines so as to produce wholesome goods and efficacious products.
In an address of welcome, Michael Attah, the Nasarawa State Coordinator of NAFDAC, expressed the hope and optimism that after the meeting all stakeholders would understand each other better and work together.
“The goal is to ensure your income increases, the economy of our dear country booms and the quality, standard and safety of your products are guaranteed for the health of all Nigerians,” Attah said.