NAFDAC, SON target new deadlines for granting of licenses

The leadership of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) have committed their agencies to new deadlines for granting of licenses to business organizations.

This comes as Acting President Yemi Osinbajo charged both regulatory agencies to act as catalysts of beneficial change and to take responsibility for facilitating businesses in the country.

While SON targets a 60-day timeline, its counterpart, NAFDAC, says it would grant licenses to organizations in 90 days.

“We must see ourselves as agents of some catalytic change, we must take some responsibility to make profound changes possible,” Osinbajo told regulatory agencies Tuesday during a follow-up meeting with the Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, medium & small scale business stakeholders from the State and some Federal Government regulatory agencies.

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At the meeting, also attended by the Industry, Trade & Investment Minister-Dr. Okey Enelamah, and the Minister of State in the ministry, Mrs. Aisha Abubakar, the Acting President directed both the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration & Control, NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, to ascertain specific timelines within which they would be able to grant licenses and approvals required of them by Nigerians and business interests.

Subsequently, the Director-General of SON, Mr. Aboloma Osita, announced that within 60 days the agency will issue required approvals, while the Acting Director-General of NAFDAC, Mrs. Yetunde Oni also said within 90 days the agency will issue required licenses.

Both officials said the timing starts from the day the requests are submitted.

According to the Acting President, regulatory agencies like NAFDAC and SON would be judged by how many people, businesses they are able to support “to achieve the greatest public good.”

The Buhari-led administration is currently pursuing a policy of easing unnecessary bottlenecks in the way of businesses both local and foreign.

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