Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector is witnessing renewed growth driven by a stronger regulatory regime and deliberate government policies, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye said.
Adeyeye spoke on Sunday at the commissioning of an ultra-modern manufacturing facility by SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, where she linked recent industry expansion to targeted reforms and stricter regulatory oversight.
“What we are witnessing today is a culmination of deliberate government policies and a dogged regulatory system. No investor would like to invest where the regulatory system is weak.” She said
She noted that NAFDAC’s “five-plus-five” policy and the “ceiling list” framework have enabled local manufacturers to expand capacity, adding that contract manufacturing has recorded a six-fold increase.
“We insisted that manufacturers must migrate to local production or partner with local firms. Today, we have seen about a six-fold increase in local manufacturing,” Adeyeye said.
The NAFDAC boss also disclosed that the agency, having attained the World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status, is now targeting ML4 and eventual World Listed Authority (WLA) recognition.
According to her, achieving higher global regulatory ratings would open international markets to Nigerian pharmaceutical products.
“Quality is synonymous with trade. When quality is built into products, trade will be enhanced,” she added.
India’s Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. Kannan Chockalingham, attributed the sector’s growth to improved regulation and policies aimed at enhancing ease of doing business.
He pledged India’s support for Nigeria in strengthening local pharmaceutical capacity and technology transfer.
Chairman of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, said the industry’s growth trajectory was largely policy-driven, commending NAFDAC’s leadership for repositioning the sector.
“Industries are not self-driven; policies drive industries. Before now, the ratio of imported to locally manufactured drugs was 70:30. Today, it is about 50:50.” Ayebae said.
Ayebae added that the sector has grown threefold, with new factories emerging and existing ones expanding capacity, particularly in Ogun State.
Host of the event and Chairman of SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr. Amit Bhojwani, described NAFDAC as a critical partner in enforcing high standards.
“You have helped us prove that ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ can be synonymous with world-class,” he said.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaka Salako, said ongoing reforms are positioning the pharmaceutical sector as a key driver of healthcare delivery and economic growth.
“This transformation is critical, not just for economic reasons, but as a key enabler of medicine sovereignty,” he said.
Salako disclosed that 87 local manufacturers are benefiting from incentives under the Presidential Executive Order, including zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials.
He added that recent milestones include WHO prequalification of two Nigerian products and the establishment of new facilities for rapid diagnostic test kits, as well as plans to commence local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
“The Federal Government has developed bold initiatives to revitalise local manufacturing, catalyse health security and create jobs,” he said.
Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described the state as Nigeria’s industrial hub and pledged continued support for pharmaceutical investments.
“We will continue to enhance ease of doing business to grow the economy and create jobs for our youths,” she said.