The federal government has emphasized the importance of local production of pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical devices in ensuring medicine security in Nigeria.
Speaking at the 2025 National Harmonisation Conference in Abuja, Olubunmi Aribeana of the Ministry of Health, represented by Adeola Olufowobi-Yusuf, said local manufacturing offers benefits including job creation, economic growth, and reduced import reliance.
“We cannot afford to be caught flatfooted like during the Covid-19 pandemic,” she said.
- WHO’s Omotayo Hamza called for “harmonisation” among key ministries to improve policy implementation. Pharmacist Chinelo Okonkwo addressed vaccine hesitancy, insisting Nigerian-made vaccines are safe and undergo full certification processes. “Our trust should be more on Nigerian products than the parallel imports,” she said.
Conference facilitator Olajide Adebola said discussions aim to evaluate government policies and lower medicine costs. He added, “In near futures, cost of medicines will come down as all stakeholders and actors are acting towards ensuring safe medicines and affordable medicines for Nigeria.”