NAFDAC, NOA dominate maiden MDA grading

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control and the National Orientation Agency led the survey as BrandXchange, organisers of the Consumers Value Awards, unveiled yesterday the Citizens Score Card, a new tool designed to gauge public perception of major government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.

According to a statement, BrandXchange was unveiled at the 2025 Consumers Value Awards, which was held recently, gathering regulators, brand managers, and consumers for the fourth consecutive year to celebrate excellence.

Speaking at the event, the Chief Executive Officer of BrandXchange and Convener of the CVA, Akonte Ekine, explained that the new public sector category emerged directly from consumers’ feedback during the nominations phase.

Ekine stated, “Consumers began listing government agencies alongside brands for consideration. This inspired us to examine the public sector closely and introduce a dedicated category.”

BrandXchange stated that Nigerians voted NAFDAC the Best Agency in Consumer Satisfaction and Engagement with 48 per cent of nationwide votes, while the agency also emerged as the Most Friendly Regulatory Agency, securing 56 per cent of votes. The firm added that citizens gave NOA an overwhelming 90 per cent of their votes, naming it the Most Engaging Government Agency.

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission won the Best Complaint Resolution Agency category, securing 47 per cent of nationwide votes. The Nigerian Communications Commission ranked second with 40 per cent in the Public Complaint Resolution category.

BrandXchange stated that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority ranked as the lowest-performing agency in the maiden edition of the CSC, securing only six per cent across all categories.

Ekine noted that the introduction of government agencies marked a first in the CVA voting categories since the award started four years ago. He added that BrandXchange would continue to encourage citizen participation to ensure accountability.

He emphasised, “BrandXchange will continue to encourage citizens to participate annually in the nomination and voting processes as a form of structured feedback for public office holders and custodians of the nation’s sub-brands.”

The CVA also introduced a new standard plaque, “The Hand and the Cowry”, a symbolic piece representing trust, integrity, and the enduring values shared between consumers and brands.

Ekine reinforced the objective of the initiative, stating, “Our goal is to promote a marketplace where trust and integrity thrive.”

In another highlight, the CVA dedicated the Sola Salako-Ajulo Award for Consumerism Reporting and honoured Raheem Akingboku as the inaugural recipient for his contributions to consumer advocacy journalism.