Pharmacists in Nigeria have raised concerns over what they described as the country’s heavy reliance on imported medicines, warning that sourcing about 70 per cent of drugs from abroad poses a major threat to national health security and economic stability.
The Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP) said the situation leaves the country vulnerable and undermines efforts to build a resilient healthcare system. The group urged the Federal Government to prioritise domestic pharmaceutical production and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.
During the association’s 29th Annual National Conference and Training held in Ilorin, Kwara State, NAIP President, Pharmacist Bankole Ezebuilo, stressed that Nigeria must urgently reposition its pharmaceutical sector. He noted that the nation faces a critical decision between continued import reliance and developing full-scale local manufacturing capacity.
Brandspur Politics Desk reports that Ezebuilo, in his keynote address, called for a coordinated national strategy to strengthen pharmaceutical sovereignty. He warned that a country unable to produce most of its essential medicines risks compromising the health of its citizens and its economic future.
He further appealed to the Federal Government to declare a national emergency in pharmaceutical manufacturing, insisting that targeted policies and investments are required to transform Nigeria into a leading drug production hub in Africa.
Ezebuilo added that strengthening local production would not only improve healthcare access but also create jobs, enhance innovation, and reduce pressure on foreign exchange caused by importation of essential medical products.
The conference attracted key stakeholders from the health and governance sectors, including commissioners from Kwara State and senior representatives of professional pharmaceutical bodies across Nigeria, who echoed calls for stronger collaboration to boost local capacity in drug production.
