Nigeria to Extend Pharma Executive Order as Local Manufacturers Target Regional Hub Status

KINGSLEY EBERE 

The Federal Government of Nigeria has signalled its intention to extend the Presidential Executive Order on pharmaceutical manufacturing for an additional two years, in a move aimed at consolidating recent gains in local drug production and advancing the country’s ambition to become a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in West Africa.

The indication was given during the 8th Nigeria Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Expo (NPME 2026), which took place on September 28 and 29 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The annual expo, organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), brought together over 200 exhibitors, including local manufacturers, regulators, investors, policymakers and development partners. This year’s theme focused on regional manufacturing, localisation, and strengthening Africa’s pharmaceutical value chain.

Speaking while declaring the event open, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the government remains committed to expanding domestic manufacturing capacity as a strategy for medicine security and economic growth.

According to Salako, Nigeria must build capacity across the entire pharmaceutical value chain, from research and development to the sourcing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), formulation, manufacturing and quality assurance. He also emphasised the need for increased investment in advanced production areas such as vaccines, biologics and other health technologies.

In his welcome remarks, Chairman of NPME 2026, Pharm. Dr Patrick Ajah, said sustainable national development depends on local production. He noted that Nigeria had for years relied heavily on imported medicines, with about 70 percent imported and 30 percent produced locally, but added that collaboration between government and industry in the last two years had started to change the trend.

PMG-MAN Chairman, Mr Oluwatosin Jolayemi, said the sector is undergoing transformation, with the group now representing more than 200 local manufacturing companies. He appealed to the Federal Government to extend the current Executive Order, which is due to expire in March 2027, by two more years.

Jolayemi explained that policy consistency is critical for manufacturers facing high energy costs, supply chain disruptions, port delays and limited access to long-term financing. He said an extension would allow companies to deepen investment, expand capacity and protect jobs.

Representing the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Owan Enoh, Director John Okpe Oluwa said the government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, is targeting 70 percent local production of essential medicines. He added that Nigeria plans to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand pharmaceutical exports across Africa.

Planned government interventions include tax exemptions, tariff waivers on raw materials and machinery, incentives for local production of APIs and excipients, and dedicated pharmaceutical funding windows.

The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, revealed that 37 local facilities are currently being upgraded to meet international manufacturing standards. She said regulatory reforms have helped reduce import dependence and improve compliance.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the African Medicines Agency, Dr Delese Mimi Darko, called for stronger regulatory harmonisation across Africa to improve market access for quality-assured medicines.

The Lagos State Government, through Special Adviser on Health Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, pledged continued support on infrastructure, energy and financing.

PMG-MAN also unveiled its Industry Self-Regulation Quality Plus (ISRQ+) project, which includes a five-year advocacy strategy for 2027 to 2031, a quality laboratory and a data centre. The 9th edition of the expo is scheduled for 2028.