Nigeria Aims to Become Africa's Pharmaceutical Hub

At the 29th annual conference of the National Association of Industrial Pharmacists (NAIP) held in Ilorin, Kwara State, Sir Bankol Ezebuilo, the national chairman, asserted that Nigeria has the potential to become Africa's pharmaceutical hub. He called on the federal government to urgently strengthen support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce the country's 70% dependence on imported medicines, a situation he described as dangerous for national healthcare stability and economic sustainability.

Ezebuilo emphasized that no nation can afford to outsource its healthcare security and urged stakeholders, including policymakers and industry players, to collaborate in building local solutions. He highlighted the need for Nigeria to achieve pharmaceutical self-sufficiency to stabilize medicine supply, improve quality control, and create jobs.

Furthermore, he called for the government to implement policies that would transform Nigeria into a significant pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa, ensuring that local products meet high-quality standards.