The Presidential Initiative on Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical ecosystem converged at the 2025 National Harmonization Conference to expedite local production of medicines and vaccines in the country.
The Conference with theme: “Contextualizing the Presidential Initiative to Achieve Local Production of Medicines and Vaccines In Nigeria”, held in Abuja on Friday.
In her remarks, the Director, Food and Drug, Federal Ministry Of Health and Social Welfare, Pharm. Olubunmi Arebeana noted that the Global Covid-19 Pandemic reinvigorated national interest and commitment to local manufacture of vaccines, Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and Finished Pharmaceutical Products (FPP).
Represented by Mrs Olufowobi-Yusuf Adeola, the Director informed that the creation of the Presidential Initiative on Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, and the signing of the Pharma Sector Presidential Executive Order, underscored the prioritization of the Pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria as an integral part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
“Local Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and medical devices is the sure path to medicines security in Nigeria, and presents opportunities for job creation, international trade, economic growth and national security.
“We cannot afford to be caught flatfooted like during the Covid-19 Pandemic. All hand must be on deck to find innovative ways to achieving the goal of unlocking the health sector value chain. Nigeria need to position itself in such a way as to maximally benefit from the African Free Trade Continental Area, which is adjudged to be among the largest in the world”, she said.
Pharm. Arebeana therefore assured of the government’s support and an enabling environment for investment in the health sector:
“Under the leadership of the Honourable Coordinating Minister, you are guaranteed of the commitment of the Department of Food & Drug Services to supporting every effort towards Local Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines and Medical devices.
“Our door is open to support with the development of policies that will create the enabling environment for investment in the health sector and efficient functioning of the all Government Initiative geared towards achieving a robust Pharma Sector”, she said.
On his part, the National and Regional Conferences Facilitator, Dr. Olajide Adebola explained that at both the National and state tier of governance, stakeholders; the manufacturers, academia, researchers, pharmacists, medical doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals, policy makers, development partners and UN bodies were coming together to champion the cause of local vaccine and pharmaceuticals production.
“We produce animal vaccines in Nigeria. The last time efforts have revamped in our Yaba lab was in 1994 or 91 there about. So subsequent administrations have been trying to unlock that value chain. And I think the stakeholders in the local pharmaceutical sector are appreciative of the efforts of the present day government, President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammed Ali Pate, and the National Coordinator of PVAC itself”, he said.
Consequently, Dr. Adebola assured that the cost of medicines will reduce in no distant time:
“Some years back, there are some medicines we cannot manufacture, we import. Now we are manufacturing. And that is the importance of having sound, evidence-based, defensible government policies. And in near distant futures, cost of medicines will come down as all stakeholders and actors are acting towards ensuring safe medicines and affordable medicines for Nigeria”, he said.
On his part, Supply Chain Manager of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Hazmat Omotayo underscored the importance of harmonization in the sector.
He warned that announcement of increased tariff on products, especially Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients by some countries would increase the cost of production and consequently transferred to the patient. He therefore solicited support for PIVAC to prevent such occurrence.
