The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Professor Akin Abayomi, expressed concern over Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported drugs and emphasized the readiness of the State government to support local pharmaceutical industries in drug production.
Speaking at the Pharma West Africa Drug Exhibition in Victoria Island, Lagos, themed “The global pharmaceutical industry is coming to Nigeria,” he lamented that 80 to 90 percent of drugs consumed in Nigeria are imported, while only five percent are manufactured domestically.
Professor Abayomi stressed the need for local pharmacists to produce high-quality drugs that meet stringent standards, highlighting Nigeria’s potential as a manufacturing hub for pharmaceuticals.
Similarly, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Food, Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), recalled a time in the 1980s when Nigeria was renowned for producing high-quality drugs, with missionaries even purchasing drugs from the country. She expressed concern over the decline in regulatory oversight and the influx of substandard drugs into Nigeria.
Professor Adeyeye urged the pharmaceutical industry to prioritize quality and customer satisfaction, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance.
The President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Prof. Cyril O. Usifo, emphasized collaboration between pharmacists and non-pharmacists to drive innovation in the pharmaceutical sector.
Various stakeholders at the event, including representatives from Cameroon and Sierra Leone, underscored the need for commitment to advancing the pharmaceutical industry and improving healthcare services in West Africa.
Organizers of the event highlighted its aim to attract manufacturers to set up businesses in Nigeria, citing the country’s sizable market potential. Pharmaceutical companies participating in the exhibition expressed interest in establishing manufacturing plants in Nigeria due to the promising market prospects.