Nigeria has recorded a sharp decline in imports of selected medicines, with importation of products covered by the country’s pharmaceutical localisation measures falling by 70 per cent as local manufacturing continues to expand.
The development comes as the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in Nigeria increased from 174 to 190, according to figures disclosed by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The agency said the shift was driven largely by its 5 Plus 5 policy and Ceiling List initiative, which are designed to encourage medicines that can be produced in Nigeria to be manufactured locally. The figures were disclosed by NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Invest in Nigeria Conference and Expo 4.0.
The change is also reflected in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply mix. The ratio of imported to locally manufactured pharmaceutical products moved from 70:30 in 2019 to 50:50 in 2025, indicating a substantial increase in the share of medicines produced within the country.
NAFDAC introduced the 5 Plus 5 policy in 2019 to facilitate the migration of selected imported medicines to local production where Nigerian manufacturers have demonstrated the capacity to produce them. Companies affected by the policy can establish manufacturing facilities locally or work with qualified Nigerian manufacturers through contract manufacturing arrangements.
The Ceiling List has also expanded the number of pharmaceutical products subject to import restrictions from nine in 2020 to 36. NAFDAC’s current list includes medicines containing active ingredients such as amoxicillin, amlodipine and albendazole, among others, for which local manufacturing capacity exists.
Contract manufacturing has emerged as another significant part of the change. The number of companies involved in such arrangements rose from 10 in 2019 to 87 in 2026, allowing firms to use approved local manufacturing capacity rather than relying entirely on overseas production.
NAFDAC said that, as of June 2026, it had reviewed and approved layouts for 176 pharmaceutical companies, comprising 70 existing facilities and 106 new ones. In addition, 37 existing manufacturers were undergoing construction or upgrades, while 28 had completed construction and commenced operations.
The figures point to a widening manufacturing base at a time when Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imported medicines overall. The Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission says pharmaceutical manufacturing presents a major opportunity for import substitution and regional exports, particularly in generics, active pharmaceutical ingredients and over the counter medicines.
For patients and businesses, the growth of domestic production could have implications for the availability and resilience of medicine supplies, although increased manufacturing capacity does not by itself guarantee lower prices or uninterrupted access.
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has also called for stronger policies supporting domestic production of active pharmaceutical ingredients, highlighting the importance of developing more parts of the pharmaceutical supply chain locally.
With manufacturers expanding, contract production gaining ground and imports of affected medicines falling, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector is moving beyond a long-standing dependence on overseas supply for a growing range of products.
