By George Ozalla
The National Blood Service Agency (NBSA) has intensified its regulatory and public health sensitisation campaign across health facilities, laboratories and blood establishments in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, warning unregistered operators to complete their registration before the September 2026 deadline.
The campaign is aimed at ensuring that facilities involved in blood collection, testing, processing, storage, distribution and transfusion operate in line with approved standards and have the necessary systems in place to guarantee the safety of blood and blood products.
The Agency, formerly known as the National Blood Transfusion Commission, is responsible for regulating and coordinating blood services across the country, promoting voluntary blood donation, supporting quality assurance and monitoring compliance with established standards.
During the sensitisation exercise, the NBSA emphasised that blood transfusion services require strict professional and regulatory controls because blood is frequently needed in emergencies involving severe blood loss, obstetric complications, trauma, surgery, severe anaemia and other conditions that can become life-threatening without timely access to safe blood.
The Agency reminded health facilities and blood establishments that blood handling must be carried out by qualified personnel and supported by proper documentation, laboratory testing, safe storage and transportation procedures, patient identification and traceability.
It said donated blood must undergo approved screening and compatibility testing before it is transfused to a patient, stressing that every stage of the process must be properly documented to make it possible to trace blood from the donor through the blood establishment and ultimately to the recipient.
The NBSA said its free registration initiative for eligible health facilities, laboratories and blood establishments would end in September 2026, urging facilities that have not registered to use the remaining period to regularise their operations.
According to the Agency, registration is necessary to strengthen regulatory monitoring, promote adherence to minimum standards and enable authorities to identify and address gaps that could compromise blood safety.
It warned that facilities that fail to comply with regulatory requirements could face enforcement action, including closure or sealing where applicable under the law.
The Agency further advised health facilities to ensure that blood is stored under appropriate conditions and handled by trained personnel, while transportation must also be carried out in a manner that preserves the quality and safety of blood and blood products.
It stressed the importance of correct patient identification before transfusion, noting that proper procedures must be followed to prevent avoidable errors and ensure that patients receive compatible blood.
Director-General of the NBSA, Professor Saley Yuguda, commended members of the multidisciplinary task force for their efforts during the sensitisation exercise and called for stronger cooperation between the Agency and stakeholders in the health sector.
Yuguda urged health facilities and blood establishments that were yet to register to take advantage of the free registration window before its expiration, warning that facilities that continued to operate without meeting regulatory requirements would be subjected to enforcement measures.
The multidisciplinary task force involved representatives of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Hospital Management Board (HMB), Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Health and Quality Laboratory Services, Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (MLSCN), State Taskforce Agency (STA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Health and Humanitarian Logistics Programme, Health Research, Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigeria Police Force (NPF), National Emergency Medical Services and Ambulance System (NEMSAS), Department of Regulation, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN), Department of Blood Services, Public Health Emergency Response and other relevant agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
The NBSA said the involvement of the different agencies reflected the need for coordinated action in regulating blood services and protecting patients who depend on transfusion.
The Agency also called on eligible members of the public to donate blood voluntarily through recognised and regulated blood donation channels, stressing that a reliable blood supply depends on regular voluntary donations.
It advised patients and their families to obtain transfusion services from qualified professionals and encouraged members of the public to promptly report concerns relating to blood safety or transfusion practices to the appropriate authorities.
The Agency maintained that blood safety starts with the donor and continues through collection, testing, processing, storage and transportation until the blood reaches the intended recipient.
With the September 2026 registration deadline approaching, the NBSA urged all affected facilities to complete their registration and ensure continued compliance with applicable standards, stressing that safe blood remains a shared responsibility among regulators, health institutions, blood establishments, healthcare professionals, donors and members of the public.
The Agency reiterated that voluntary blood donation helps sustain the national blood supply, while compliance with regulatory standards is essential to protecting patients and strengthening confidence in Nigeria’s blood transfusion system.
