The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry through strategic investments, innovative financing and tighter regulatory enforcement aimed at boosting local production of essential medicines and reducing dependence on imported medical products.
The National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry (PVAC), Dr. Mukhtar Abdul, disclosed this while presenting the initiative’s achievements at the 2026 Joint Annual Review.
Abdul said the interventions had recorded significant progress in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial expansion and regional collaboration, positioning Nigeria as an emerging leader in Africa’s pharmaceutical industry.
He said the initiative had introduced the Bridge to Scale financing mechanism, a donor-supported intervention designed to reduce borrowing costs and provide pharmaceutical manufacturers and other healthcare value-chain operators with access to affordable financing.
According to him, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing model is attracting interest from other African countries seeking to establish similar structures.
He added that PVAC was facilitating cross-border investments and partnerships to support the establishment of pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities in other African countries, with the involvement of Nigerian manufacturers and regulatory institutions.
Among the achievements recorded, Abdul listed the commencement of local production of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, establishment of diagnostic product packaging and manufacturing facilities, expansion of medical oxygen production capacity and investments in advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He also disclosed that a major pharmaceutical company was preparing to establish an active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing plant, expected to commence operations in the first quarter of 2027.
He described the development as a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
Additionally, the PVAC coordinator said the initiative would continue to support more than 200 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies while strengthening financing opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises in the healthcare sector.
He added that the proposed Life Care Fund would provide an additional financing window for businesses, while collaboration with regulators and industry stakeholders would support Nigeria’s ambition to attain higher World Health Organisation regulatory maturity status and advance local vaccine manufacturing.
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said the agency had recorded significant progress in its fight against counterfeit, substandard and falsified medicines and other regulated products.
Adeyeye, represented by Mr. Salihu Bello, disclosed that NAFDAC conducted 5,532 enforcement activities during the period under review, comprising 213 raids, 211 sanctions and 52 arrests.
She said the agency also seized 821 products, closed 179 premises and destroyed counterfeit and expired products worth ₦22.73bn through 22 destruction exercises.
On regulatory achievements, NAFDAC highlighted Nigeria’s admission as the 24th member of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use.
The country also became the 31st African Union member state to ratify and deposit its instrument of ratification for the African Medicines Agency agreement, strengthening its role in continental pharmaceutical regulation.
The agency identified the attainment of WHO Maturity Level 4 and WHO Listed Authority status, strengthened enforcement, expanded digital product traceability, improved stakeholder engagement and deeper international regulatory cooperation as key priorities for 2027.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, meanwhile, stressed the need for sustained collaboration among government agencies, pharmaceutical manufacturers, development partners and other stakeholders to build a resilient pharmaceutical industry.
It said such cooperation remained essential to ensuring Nigerians had access to safe, effective, quality and affordable medicines and medical products.
