Nigeria’s Pharma Manufacturers Push 70% Local Production to Curb Importation

By Àkànní Olúwaségún Michael

Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturers are intensifying efforts to scale domestic drug production, targeting 70 per cent local manufacturing capacity as global supply chain disruptions and foreign exchange pressures continue to expose the country’s dependence on imported medicines.

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) said the push aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to reduce import dependence and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare manufacturing ecosystem.

Speaking ahead of the eighth edition of the Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo, Patrick Ajah, managing director of May & Baker Nigeria Plc and chairman of the exhibition planning committee, said the industry was witnessing increasing investment momentum driven by policy support and rising local manufacturing interest.

According to Ajah, the pharmaceutical sector is gradually transitioning from a largely import-dependent market towards stronger domestic production capabilities.

“The momentum in local pharmaceutical manufacturing is encouraging. We are seeing more factories springing up across the country, and many companies are seeking to become members of PMG-MAN,” he said.

“This clearly shows that government policies and our advocacy efforts are yielding positive results.”

Nigeria currently imports a significant share of its pharmaceutical products and raw materials, leaving the sector vulnerable to exchange rate volatility, global logistics disruptions, and external supply shocks.

Ajah noted that recent geopolitical tensions affecting global trade routes, including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, have reinforced the urgency of strengthening local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

“With the geopolitical tensions affecting global trade routes, including the situation around the Strait of Hormuz, imported pharmaceuticals are vulnerable to disruptions. This validates the need for Nigeria to accelerate local manufacturing,” he stated.

He explained that PMG-MAN’s long-term vision is to reverse Nigeria’s current pharmaceutical import structure by ensuring the country produces at least 70 percent of its medicine needs locally, similar to industrial manufacturing hubs such as India and China.

Ajah added that the forthcoming expo would prioritise indigenous pharmaceutical companies and support firms contributing to Nigeria’s local content agenda.

According to him, foreign exhibitors would only be allowed to participate if their products or services support local production, particularly in areas such as manufacturing machinery and specialised inputs currently unavailable in Nigeria.

Industry operators have repeatedly argued that expanding domestic pharmaceutical production could improve medicine security, reduce import bills, create jobs, and strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare resilience.

Frank Muonemeh, executive secretary of PMG-MAN, disclosed that the 2026 Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo would hold on September 28 and 29 at the Harbour Point Event Centre.

He said more than 200 exhibiting companies and approximately 10,000 pharmaceutical and healthcare professionals across Africa are expected to participate in the event.

According to Muonemeh, this year’s theme, “Regional Manufacturing: Advancing Africa’s Pharma and Life Science Sovereignty through Localisation.”

He added that the ministers of health, trade, and industry are expected to officially declare the exhibition open.