Pharmacists have attributed the slow growth of local drug production and the rising cost of medicines in the country to weak government policies.
They also warned that these issues are contributing to the proliferation of fake and substandard drugs, which pose serious health risks.
According to the pharmacists, the ongoing economic hardship is pushing many Nigerians to seek cheaper medications, inadvertently fueling the market for counterfeit and expired drugs. They stressed the urgent need for stronger collaboration between the government and pharmaceutical manufacturers to boost local production and ensure the availability of affordable, quality medicines.
Improved domestic drug manufacturing, they noted, would help address current shortages and stabilize the soaring prices of essential medicines.
Olumide Obube, Vice Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ogun State branch, described the nation’s drug manufacturing capacity as poor. As a member of the Ogun State Drug Control Committee, he highlighted Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported medicines, which exposes the supply chain to counterfeiters.
“Current pharmaceutical policies are inadequate, preventing the production of high-quality and affordable drugs locally,” Obube said. “The government should mandate that a certain percentage of its drug procurement be sourced from local manufacturers. In addition, offering low-interest loans and tax incentives would greatly support the sector.”
He also advocated for reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks for locally produced drugs that meet safety standards and urged the government to encourage the establishment of more WHO-certified pharmaceutical plants in Nigeria. Public-private partnerships, he added, would further strengthen high-quality pharmaceutical production.
Kenneth Onuegbu, National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, emphasized that local drug production not only ensures medicine security but also attracts foreign direct investment and boosts the economy. However, he pointed out that the government must create a more business-friendly environment to encourage investment in the sector.
Onuegbu identified foreign exchange scarcity as a major obstacle, noting that the current exchange rate—now above N1000 to the dollar—makes it extremely difficult for importers to access forex.
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“The poor value of the naira is making drug importation unsustainable,” he said. “When you factor in the cost of importing, who can afford these drugs?”
He called for policies that support local manufacturers, including improved infrastructure such as reliable power supply, better road networks, and easier access to foreign exchange.
“Once the ease of doing business is improved, it will benefit both local manufacturers and the general population. It will also help reduce the circulation of fake and adulterated medicines,” he added.
Similarly, Emeka Adimoha, Head of Quality Assurance and Regulatory Affairs at Shalina Healthcare, stressed the need for comprehensive policy reforms to promote local production. He criticized existing government policies as restrictive and counterproductive.
“There must be a deliberate effort to make Nigeria a productive nation,” Adimoha said. “This requires addressing every link in the production chain. If investors are invited to set up manufacturing operations in Nigeria, but the raw materials they need attract high import duties, it simply won’t work.”
He called for a more holistic approach to policymaking in the pharmaceutical sector to drive meaningful change and sustainable growth.
