The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Nigeria has reduced the importation of certain medicines by 70 per cent, following the implementation of its Five Plus Five Year Validity policy aimed at boosting local pharmaceutical production.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Thursday, NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, described the policy as a major milestone that has helped revive Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry.
According to her, the initiative requires pharmaceutical companies importing selected medicines into Nigeria to begin local manufacturing or partner with local producers within five years.
“We have decreased importation of products under those categories… by 70 per cent. We have saved our pharmaceutical industry from oblivion because of our policies,” Adeyeye said.
The Five Plus Five Year Validity policy, introduced in 2019, was designed to encourage local drug manufacturing, reduce dependence on imported medicines and strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
Under the policy, 29 essential medicines can now only be registered as locally manufactured products, preventing foreign companies from importing finished versions without local production arrangements.
The list includes commonly used medicines such as Paracetamol, Ciprofloxacin, Ampicillin, Albendazole, Omeprazole, Vitamin C, Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) and several herbal products, including Moringa, Aloe Vera, Garlic and Bitter Leaf.
Adeyeye explained that the policy has reduced the country’s vulnerability to global supply disruptions while improving access to essential medicines.
She also noted that the Federal Government’s 2024 Executive Order has further encouraged local pharmaceutical manufacturing by introducing incentives for drug producers.
The NAFDAC boss revealed that the agency is working on a similar policy for Nigeria’s food industry to promote more local production.
She further advised Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to apply directly for NAFDAC registration instead of using middlemen, warning that many business owners have fallen victim to fraudsters posing as registration agents.
According to her, some registration processes require laboratory analysis and inspections, making it impossible to bypass regulatory procedures.
