Pharmacists Urge Tinubu to Boost Local Medicine Production

During the 29th Annual National Conference of the Nigerian Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP) held in Ilorin, Kwara State, the association's chairman, Bankol Ezebuilo, expressed concern over Nigeria's dependence on imported medicines, which accounts for 70% of the country's pharmaceutical needs. He appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government to support local drug production, emphasizing that this would reduce Nigeria's reliance on imports and enhance the nation’s pharmaceutical sovereignty.

Ezebuilo described the current situation as dangerous for Nigeria's healthcare and economic stability. He called for the declaration of Nigeria as an emerging pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa and urged the implementation of policies to transform the local pharmaceutical industry.

The event was attended by various dignitaries, including state commissioners and past presidents of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN).