Osinbajo Gives Marching Orders To NAFDAC, SON On Moving Businesses Forward In Nigeria

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has given both the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control, (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on how they need to act as catalysts for beneficial change and facilitate businesses in the country.
He specifically asked them to ascertain specific timelines within which they would be able to grant licenses and approvals required of them by Nigerians and business interests.
“We must see ourselves as agents of some catalytic change. We must take some responsibility to make profound changes possible.”
Professor Osinbajo spoke today, Tuesday, during a follow-up meeting with the Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu on the, Medium & Small Scale Business stakeholders from the State and some Federal Government regulatory agencies. The meeting was attended by the Industry, Trade & Investment Minister-Dr. Okey Enelamah, and the Minister of State in the ministry, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar.
According to the Acting President, regulatory NAFDAC and SON would be judged by how many people, businesses they are able to support “to achieve the greatest public good.”
He commended the Abia State Governor for his drive, adding that ‘Made in Aba’ products are now acquiring a mark of quality.
“Like I said during my visit to Aba, you can’t have any serious kind of industrialization in this country, without a focus on Aba.”
The Acting President had earlier visited Aba to flag-off the Presidency’s MSMES Clinics where medium & small scale businesses are brought together in one spot with Federal Government regulatory agencies they interface with.
Meanwhile, both the Director-General of SON, Mr. Aboloma Osita and Acting Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni have promised that within 60 and 90 days respectively, they will issue required approvals and the issuance of required licenses. Both officials said that the timing starts from the day the requests are submitted.
Also today, Professor Osinbajo met with the Governors of Cross Rivers, Senator Ben Ayade; Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom and Ebonyi States, David Umahi, alongside top officials of the National Boundary Commission, led by the Director-General, Dr. Muhammad Ahmad. The meeting was aimed at reviewing the updates on boundary demarcation issues. [myad]