‘It’s dangerous to import 70 per cent of medicines’ – Pharmacists tell Tinubu
Pharmacists Warn of Risks Associated with Nigeria’s High Dependency on Imported Medicines
Pharmacists affiliated with the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) have raised concerns over the nation’s reliance on imported medications, with over 70 percent of medicines currently sourced from abroad. They describe this situation as both “unfortunate” and “worrisome.”
During the association’s 29th annual national conference held in Ilorin, Kwara State, national chairman Bankole Ezebuilo urged the federal government, led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to prioritize support for local pharmaceutical production. Ezebuilo emphasized that strengthening domestic drug manufacturing could reduce Nigeria’s dependency on foreign supplies and enhance the country’s potential as a pharmaceutical hub for Africa.
The conference, themed “Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry,” attracted notable attendees, including Kwara State’s Commissioner for Finance Dr. Hauwa Nuru, Commissioner for Social Welfare Dr. Mariam Nana Fatima Imam, and other key officials.
Ezebuilo expressed concern that Nigeria is at a critical juncture due to its over-reliance on imported drugs. He stated, “A nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health.” He further urged a decisive choice between ongoing dependence on imports and the pursuit of “pharmaceutical sovereignty” through enhanced local production capabilities.
In a statement, Ezebuilo called for the federal government to declare a national emergency in pharmaceutical manufacturing, asserting that no nation can outsource its health security. He warned, “Nigeria currently imports more than 70 percent of its medicines, a situation dangerous to national healthcare stability and economic sustainability.”
Ezebuilo’s remarks pinpoint the dire need for comprehensive policies to transform Nigeria into a leading pharmaceutical manufacturing center in Africa, emphasizing that relying on imports endangers public health.
