Stakeholders have called for the repositioning of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry to improve access to health products, lower the cost of medicines, and boost efficiency across the sector.
They made the call at a high-level Stakeholders’ Engagement on Harmonising Pharmaceutical Sector Activities in Abuja, where participants outlined strategies to strengthen the pharmaceutical ecosystem in line with the objectives of the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
The Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tayo Hamzat, said the meeting was timely, given the ongoing interventions in the sector. According to him, harmonisation will increase efficiency, strengthen regulatory oversight, and reduce duplication of efforts.
Hamzat acknowledged that while Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system is vast and robust, it faces management challenges due to a lack of coordinated frameworks.
“We have much to gain if the pharmaceutical industries are well managed. A good framework will take into consideration the full supply chain cycle of pharmaceuticals in the country,” he said.
The Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Dr. Obi Adigwe, was represented by Prof. Philip Builders, who stated that fragmented interventions, regulatory redundancies, and duplications have hindered the sector’s growth. He noted that equitable access to quality medicines is central to universal healthcare coverage, yet millions of Nigerians still face barriers in accessing essential health commodities.
“This is not simply a health challenge; it is an issue of equity, national security, and economic survival. Harmonisation is about creating synergy where policies, investments and technical frameworks are deliberately aligned to deliver measurable outcomes,” Adigwe stressed.
He further called for short, medium, and long-term strategies to make the pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and responsive to Nigeria’s healthcare needs.
Additionally, the Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, Dr. Francis Ohanyido, emphasized the need for resource optimization in the face of evolving development financing. He identified market shaping as a vital tool to avoid waste and unlock opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Dr Anthony Ayeke, highlighted the importance of streamlining regulatory frameworks, building capacity across the value chain, fostering innovation, and promoting public-private partnerships. He said harmonisation would accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system. He also reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a robust and locally driven pharmaceutical industry.
The National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), Dr Abdu Mukhtar, represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project. He said the committee remained committed to catalysing local pharmaceutical production, streamlining regulations, and attracting sustainable investments.
“Let us leverage this platform to strengthen partnerships, optimise resources, and ensure every intervention aligns with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” Mukhtar said.
