Nigeria is considering a two-year extension of its pharmaceutical manufacturing policy window as the government seeks to reduce dependence on imported medicines, strengthen supply security and build a competitive industry serving the wider African market.
The proposal was discussed at the eighth Nigeria Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Expo in Lagos, where government officials, regulators and manufacturers assessed the progress made under the Presidential Executive Order supporting local pharmaceutical production.
The existing policy window is expected to expire in March 2027. Industry representatives asked the government to extend it for another two years, arguing that manufacturers need a predictable period in which to complete factory upgrades, expand capacity and justify long-term investment.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to domestic manufacturing, describing it as essential to medicine security, healthcare resilience and economic development.
He said improvement was needed across the pharmaceutical value chain, from research and development to the local sourcing of active pharmaceutical ingredients and excipients, formulation, manufacturing and quality assurance. He also called for more investment in advanced production areas, including vaccines, biologics and other critical health technologies.
The central question is whether Nigeria can turn that ambition into affordable and reliably available medicines for patients. The country’s pharmaceutical market has historically depended heavily on imports. Dr Patrick Ajah, chairman of the expo, said about 70 per cent of medicines consumed in Nigeria had been imported, with local companies accounting for roughly 30 per cent.
The government is now targeting domestic production of 70 per cent of essential medicines. Reaching that level would require a major reversal of the current structure and a sustained increase in factory investment, technical skills, quality control and locally available production inputs.
For ordinary Nigerians, the policy matters because heavy dependence on imports exposes medicine prices and availability to exchange-rate movements, shipping delays and international supply disruptions. When the naira weakens or overseas supply chains stall, hospitals, pharmacies and families can face higher costs or shortages.
Greater local production could reduce some of those pressures, create skilled jobs and retain more value within the Nigerian economy. It could also improve the country’s ability to respond to epidemics or global emergencies when competition for vaccines, diagnostics and medicines intensifies.
However, local manufacture does not automatically guarantee lower prices. Producers still contend with high energy costs, expensive credit, port delays, imported machinery and raw materials, and the cost of meeting international quality standards. Those pressures can make locally made products less competitive unless the wider business environment improves.
Oluwatosin Jolayemi, chairman of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, said the organisation now represents more than 200 local manufacturing companies. He warned that recent gains could be weakened without consistent policies and a predictable investment environment.
Among the challenges identified were unreliable power, supply-chain bottlenecks, limited access to long-term finance and difficulty reaching domestic and regional markets. Manufacturers argue that an extended policy window would give companies enough time to deepen investments and bring new capacity into operation.
The Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, said the government was working to move Nigeria away from import dependence. Proposed measures include wider tax exemptions, tariff waivers for raw materials and machinery, support for producing active ingredients locally and dedicated pharmaceutical intervention funds.
Regulatory capacity will be equally important. The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, disclosed that 37 local manufacturing facilities were undergoing construction or retrofitting to meet international standards.
Stronger regulation is crucial because expanding production must not come at the expense of safety, efficacy or public confidence. Facilities must comply with appropriate manufacturing standards, while regulators need sufficient laboratory capacity, trained personnel and transparent enforcement to identify substandard or falsified products.
Industry growth could also create an export opportunity. A stronger Nigerian manufacturing base would be well placed to supply West African markets and use the African Continental Free Trade Area to reach a larger customer base. Yet that opportunity depends on regulatory harmonisation, efficient customs processes and confidence that products meet recognised standards across borders.
The expo also highlighted the need for research, technology transfer and skilled manpower. Without stronger links among universities, research institutes, manufacturers and investors, Nigeria risks remaining dependent on imported formulas, equipment and production inputs even as more medicines are packaged locally.
The pharmaceutical manufacturers’ group unveiled a five-year medicine-security advocacy strategy covering 2027 to 2031, along with a quality laboratory and a data repository and learning centre. The components are expected to be commissioned progressively over the next six to ten months.
A two-year extension, if formally approved, would therefore offer breathing room rather than a complete solution. Success should be measured not only by the number of factories or policy incentives, but by whether Nigerians can consistently obtain safe, effective and affordable medicines.
Clear implementation timelines, published performance targets and regular reporting on production, prices and quality would help the public judge progress. The policy will matter most when stronger domestic manufacturing translates into better treatment access for households and a more resilient health system.
Podium News invites healthcare professionals, manufacturers and patients to share their experiences of medicine availability and the practical changes needed to make quality medicines more affordable in Nigeria.
