The Nigerian government is urgently required to end the country’s overwhelming dependence on imported medicines, according to industrial chemist Henrietta Ukwu, who has stated that the importation of 70% of the pharmaceuticals used in Nigeria is unacceptable.
The chemist characterised the situation as intolerable, stating that the country’s estimated 70% dependence on foreign pharmaceuticals is not only concerning but also unfortunate.
Ukwu addressed the concerns during a keynote address at the 29th Annual National Conference of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria, which was held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
She issued a statement in which she urged the federal government to intensify its support for local pharmaceutical manufacturing, recognising that this would facilitate the establishment of a national health security framework.
Ukwu emphasised that Nigeria cannot continue to depend on foreign nations for medicines and other essential products when discussing the topic “Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry as a Pillar of National Health, Wealth, and Security.”
She urged the federal government to resolve the issue, asserting, “We possess the necessary expertise and resources to advance the pharmaceutical industry; however, we are not fully utilising the natural resources that Nigeria possesses.”
“The primary concern is the importation of drugs into this country.” Specifically, how can we accomplish this? Through investment
“Investors will allocate capital to the pharmaceutical industry when they observe that manufacturers are adhering to international standards, which will increase the production of pharmaceutical products in Nigeria.”