Katsina to launch pharma firm, invests N5b in healthcare – Radda

Katsina State Governor, Dr Dikko Radda, has said his administration plans to construct a state-owned pharmaceutical manufacturing company—a first of its kind in northern Nigeria.

Radda also said more than N5 billion has been invested to improve healthcare infrastructure and services since his administration came on board over a year ago.

The governor spoke Wednesday evening at the commissioning of a state-of-the-art pharma-grade warehouse and the distribution of free medicare and motorcycles for tuberculosis and leprosy surveillance.

He said the proposed pharmaceutical company “aims to manufacture essential drugs that are not only available but also affordable while reducing external dependency and boosting local drug supply.”

He revealed that the sum of N300 million has been earmarked in the 2025 budget to scale up the current drug revolving fund scheme, adding that this would ensure broader coverage of health facilities across the state.

The governor noted that the state government had approved substantial financial investments to support the Drugs and Medical Supply Agency.
“The investments include N96 million to enhance the drug revolving fund scheme and an additional N100 million to extend the agency’s operational efficiency,” he added.

He commended the donors of the pharma-grade warehouse project, particularly the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the National Product Supply Management Chain Program, for selecting Katsina as a beneficiary.

Speaking on the features of the warehouse, Dr Fatima Shuaibu, Executive Secretary of the State Drugs and Medical Supply Agency, said it contains cold rooms for thermolabile drug storage, a quality assurance laboratory, and a new drug information centre with a hotline for reporting fake and substandard drugs.

Shuaibu said the warehouse project, together with other programmes, was the result of the approval of counterpart funding by the state governor.

She, however, requested the governor’s support in providing a bigger generating set or installing a mini-grid solar-powered solution to adequately power the expanded facility.

Chief of the UNICEF Field Office in Kano, Rahma Farah, described the pharma-grade warehouse as a significant milestone and a major leap forward in strengthening the health system in the state.

Represented by UNICEF Health Specialist Saudat Basheer, Farah said, “UNICEF, in collaboration with the Global Fund and the Federal Government of Nigeria, led the upgrade of 22 medical warehouses across 21 states to ultra-modern pharma-grade standards and Traceability Initiative Device Procurement to boost the healthcare delivery system in Nigeria, including Katsina State.

“The upgrade of 22 medical warehouses across 21 states to ultra-modern pharma-grade status underscores the need for sustained efforts to improve access to quality healthcare services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations.

“The commissioning of this pharma-grade warehouse is a critical step in this direction. This state-of-the-art facility will provide a secure, climate-controlled environment for the storage and distribution of essential medicines and vaccines.

“This will help ensure timely and equitable access to life-saving commodities, reducing stockouts and improving health outcomes for children and families across Katsina State.

“The warehouse will also enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the health supply chain in Katsina State, enabling the state government to better plan, manage, and distribute essential medicines and vaccines,” he added.