The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) has called for a gradual end to the massive importation of medicines into the country, warning that Nigeria’s continued dependence on foreign drugs poses serious risks to national health security and economic stability.
Speaking at the 29th Annual National Conference of NAIP in Ilorin, the National Chairman of the association, Mr. Bankole Ezebuilo, said Nigeria must deliberately strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing to reduce vulnerability to global disruptions and currency instability.
The conference, themed “Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry,” brought together industry experts, regulators, researchers and stakeholders to discuss the future of the nation’s pharmaceutical sector.
Ezebuilo said Nigeria could no longer afford to rely heavily on imported medicines, stressing that overdependence on foreign drugs weakens national resilience and healthcare security.
“No nation can outsource its health security, and no sector can thrive in isolation,” he said.
According to him, the conference theme reflects the urgent challenges facing the pharmaceutical industry and the need for collective efforts among government, manufacturers, researchers and healthcare professionals.
“We chose collaboration because the challenges before us are too complex, urgent, and interconnected for any single entity to solve alone.
“We chose innovation because doing more of the same will not take us where we need to go, and we chose local solutions because sustainability cannot be imported; it must be built deliberately, strategically, and collectively,” he stated.
The NAIP chairman urged the Federal Government to introduce policies that would support local drug production, while also encouraging investors and stakeholders to commit more resources toward expanding domestic manufacturing capacity.
He warned that Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines, estimated at over 70 per cent, leaves the country exposed to external shocks, including exchange rate fluctuations and global supply disruptions.
“On one path lies continued dependence importing over 70 per cent of our medicines. This exposes us to currency volatility, global disruptions, and external decisions.
“On the other path lies sovereignty local innovation, resilient manufacturing, and an industry that not only serves Nigeria but leads Africa,” he said.
Ezebuilo also highlighted the need for improved technical expertise and industry-focused skills development, noting that weak capacity and poor manufacturing systems continue to slow growth in the sector.
“When skills are misplaced, innovation stalls; when knowledge is shallow, quality is compromised; and when capacity is weak, we remain dependent on others for what we should produce ourselves,” he added.
He described capacity building as essential for sustainable industrial growth, insisting that the future of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry depends on practical training, innovation and strong collaboration.
“To build local solutions, we must stop importing not just medicines, but also ideas.
“If we get it right, we will transform this industry, create jobs, reduce dependency, compete globally, and deliver healthcare locally,” Ezebuilo said.
In her keynote address titled “Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry as a Pillar of National Health, Wealth, and Security,” Dr. Henrietta Ukwu, Executive Vice President and Chief Regulatory Officer at Novavax USA, said Nigeria possesses enormous untapped potential capable of transforming the pharmaceutical sector into a globally competitive industry.
She noted that although the Federal Government has made progress in supporting the sector, more deliberate actions are still needed to unlock its full potential.
“We have incredible expertise and all it takes to move the pharmaceutical industry forward, but we are not fully harnessing the natural resources Nigeria is endowed with,” she said.
Ukwu called for improved infrastructure, stable electricity supply, sustainable technologies, stronger quality assurance systems and continuous professional development to advance the industry.
Earlier, Chairman of the Planning Committee, Mr. Theophilus Emeka, urged participants to embrace unity, collaboration and innovation in developing sustainable solutions capable of repositioning Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry for future growth.
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