The Managing Director, Colexa Biosensor Limited, Kingsley Aguoru, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise local pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing as a critical pathway to achieving healthcare security, creating jobs and strengthening Nigeria’s economy.

Speaking during an interview, Aguoru stated that while recent Federal Government initiatives to strengthen the pharmaceutical value chain and support local manufacturers were encouraging, greater commitment was, however, needed to ensure said policies deliver meaningful impact.

He added that the goal was not to completely phase out imports, but to build a balanced ecosystem in which local production serves as the primary driver of healthcare supply.

“Manufacturing is the foundation of economic prosperity. It creates jobs, builds technical expertise, promotes innovation and strengthens national self-sufficiency. Every industrialised nation built its wealth on manufacturing and Nigeria cannot be an exception.

“No country operates without imports. Nigeria needs to have a clear and sustained strategy that gradually shifts us from importing most of our healthcare products to one where local manufacturing meets a significant share of national demand,” he said.

He argued that a stronger manufacturing base would provide opportunities for thousands of graduates in science and technology-related fields while helping to retain critical skills within the country.

He urged policymakers to engage more closely with manufacturers and other stakeholders to assess the effectiveness of existing interventions and address challenges hindering growth within the sector.

According to him, Nigeria possesses the talent, market and entrepreneurial capacity required to become a major pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa if the right enabling environment is sustained.