Written by
Ishioma Appiah-Yeboah
The National Chairman of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, NAIP, Pharm. Bankole Ezebuilo, is calling on the Federal Government to urgently support local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines and position the country as Africa’s pharmaceutical hub.
Ezebuilo made the call at the 29th Annual National Conference and Training of NAIP held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Speaking at the conference, he warned that Nigeria currently imports more than seventy percent of its medicines, describing the situation as a major threat to the nation’s healthcare security and economic stability.
He stressed that no nation can afford to outsource its healthcare needs, especially during global health emergencies and supply chain disruptions.
According to him, Nigeria must now decide whether to remain dependent on imported drugs or pursue pharmaceutical self-sufficiency through aggressive local production and innovation.
The NAIP chairman urged the Federal Government to declare a national emergency on pharmaceutical manufacturing and introduce policies that will encourage investment, industrial growth, and local drug production.
He also assured President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that members of the association are ready to partner with government to drive Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industrial revolution.
Ezebuilo noted that although some medicines are produced locally, most Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, known as APIs, are still imported into the country.
He explained that strengthening local production would improve access to quality medicines, create jobs, conserve foreign exchange, and protect Nigeria from future global supply disruptions.
The conference also featured humanitarian outreach programmes, including the renovation of healthcare centres and free medical services for over one thousand residents in Ilorin and surrounding communities.
Stakeholders at the event emphasized that collaboration, innovation, and investment remain critical to building a stronger and more sustainable pharmaceutical industry in Nigeria.