Nigeria Moves to End Drug Import Dependency: Tinubu’s Govt Champions Local Pharma Manufacturing By Abdulsalam Abdulhamid(sabinurse)

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In a bold move to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare industry, the Federal Government has launched sweeping reforms aimed at reducing the country’s heavy reliance on imported medicines. Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, made this known during a recent interview on Channels Television.

According to pharmaceutical experts, an alarming 70% of drugs consumed in Nigeria are imported, making the nation’s healthcare system extremely vulnerable. But under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, steps are being taken to change that narrative.



Prof. Pate revealed that the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) is at the heart of this transformation. The initiative is designed to attract substantial investment, encourage private-sector participation, and ultimately turn Nigeria into a global hub for health product manufacturing.

“For decades, Nigeria has depended on imports—even for basic generic drugs we could easily produce locally,” Prof. Pate said. “Previous local manufacturers struggled due to an unfriendly policy environment. But this administration is taking decisive action.”

To that effect, President Tinubu has signed executive orders to reduce tariffs on raw materials and essential manufacturing equipment. This move, combined with the “Nigeria First” policy, is designed to boost local content and encourage Nigerians to support homegrown pharmaceutical products.

The impact is already being felt. The Health Minister shared that a new pharmaceutical plant was recently commissioned in Sagamu, Ogun State, while several others are underway—including a facility in Abuja capable of producing 600 million test kits.

“Just two years ago, Sub-Saharan Africa had no local producers of rapid diagnostic kits—not even for malaria,” Pate stated. “Today, Nigeria is changing that. Local manufacturers are rising, and more are coming, thanks to this renewed direction.”

With this strategic shift, the Tinubu administration is not only solving long-standing supply chain problems but also laying the foundation for a medically industrialized Nigeria—one that can compete on the global stage.

✅ Key Highlights:

  • 70% of drugs in Nigeria are currently imported.

  • PVAC initiative targets investment and policy reform in healthcare.

  • Local manufacturing plants now produce test kits and generic medicines.

  • Government reducing tariffs to encourage local production.

  • “Nigeria First” policy promotes patronage of locally-made drugs.

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