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Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Sector Records Growth As NAFDAC Tightens Regulation.
Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry is experiencing renewed expansion, driven by stronger regulatory enforcement and targeted government policies, according to the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
She made the remarks on Sunday at the commissioning of a modern manufacturing facility by SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, linking the sector’s recent growth to reforms and stricter regulatory oversight.
“What we are witnessing today is a culmination of deliberate government policies and a dogged regulatory system. No investor would like to invest where the regulatory system is weak,” she said.
Adeyeye explained that initiatives such as NAFDAC’s “five-plus-five” policy and the “ceiling list” framework have helped boost local production capacity, noting that contract manufacturing has increased significantly.
She added that the agency’s push for manufacturers to either localise production or partner with domestic firms has led to a six-fold rise in local manufacturing output.
The NAFDAC boss also revealed that the agency, which has attained World Health Organisation (WHO) Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status, is working toward achieving ML4 and eventual World Listed Authority (WLA) recognition.
According to her, higher global regulatory standards would improve access for Nigerian pharmaceutical products in international markets.
“Quality is synonymous with trade. When quality is built into products, trade will be enhanced,” she added.
India’s Consul General to Nigeria, Mr. Kannan Chockalingham, attributed the sector’s progress to improved regulation and business-friendly policies, pledging continued support for technology transfer and capacity building.
Chairman of Fidson Healthcare Plc, Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, also said the industry’s growth has been policy-driven, noting a shift in the import-to-local production ratio from 70:30 to about 50:50.
He added that the sector has expanded threefold, with new factories emerging and existing ones scaling up, particularly in Ogun State.
Chairman of SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited, Mr. Amit Bhojwani, described NAFDAC as a key partner in ensuring high standards, saying the agency has helped demonstrate that “Made-in-Nigeria” products can meet global quality benchmarks.
Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Isiaka Salako, said ongoing reforms are strengthening the pharmaceutical sector as a driver of healthcare delivery and economic growth.
He disclosed that 87 local manufacturers are benefiting from incentives under a Presidential Executive Order, including zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials.
Salako also highlighted milestones such as WHO prequalification of two Nigerian products, new facilities for diagnostic kits, and plans for local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs).
Ogun State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, described the state as Nigeria’s industrial hub and pledged continued support for pharmaceutical investment and job creation.
Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, says the state has mapped out 22,435 hectares of degraded land for restoration under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project using modern geospatial mapping technology.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He said the initiative is part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience, tackle environmental degradation, and promote sustainable land use in the state.
Speaking at the ACReSAL mid-term review meeting in Kaduna through the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, the governor explained that the use of geospatial tools has made it possible to accurately identify affected areas for targeted intervention.
He added that the project is not only focused on land recovery but also on boosting agricultural output and improving livelihoods in affected communities.
Sani also noted that the state is supporting the programme with empowerment initiatives, including training over 500 women, youths, and school feeding vendors in biomass briquette production.
According to him, the effort is already helping to reduce dependence on firewood while creating alternative sources of income for beneficiaries.
President Tinubu has given full backing for the implementation of the ₦68.32 trillion 2026 budget after signing the Appropriation Bill passed by the National Assembly into law.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
He also approved an amendment extending the lifespan of the 2025 budget from March 31 to June 30, 2026, to ensure completion of ongoing capital projects nationwide.
Under the 2026 fiscal plan, ₦4.799 trillion is set aside for statutory transfers, ₦15.8 trillion for debt servicing, ₦15.4 trillion for recurrent spending, while ₦32.2 trillion goes to capital projects—about half of the total budget.
The focus, according to the administration, is on infrastructure development, security, and growth-driven investments aimed at improving living standards.
Speaking on the development, presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said the extension of the 2025 budget will help ensure full use of allocated funds, especially for major ongoing projects.
Tinubu directed all ministries, departments, and agencies to ensure transparency, discipline, and value-for-money in implementing the budget, while praising the National Assembly for its swift passage of the bill.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic reforms, revenue growth, job creation, and social welfare improvements.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has described moves to prosecute former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed over alleged culpable homicide as an attempt to reopen the 2018 Offa robbery tragedy for political purposes.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
In a statement on Friday, the party’s spokesperson, Olusegun Adewara, said the development is a disturbing and dangerous politicisation of a case they claim has already been addressed through judicial processes.
He warned against dragging the state into fresh tension, accusing the state government of attempting to revive old allegations for political advantage.
Adewara said the PDP would not remain silent while what he called “political narratives” are used to influence public perception around a tragic incident that claimed multiple lives in Offa in 2018.
He also urged residents, especially affected families, not to allow their pain to be used for political gains, insisting it is unjust to associate Saraki with the crime.
The party further alleged that the move is aimed at distracting attention from governance challenges in the state.
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