By Seun Ibiyemi
The Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, has stressed that robust regulatory systems and deliberate government policies are critical to building a thriving pharmaceutical sector in Nigeria.
Adeyeye made the remarks during the commissioning of a new ultra-modern facility by SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited in Sango-Ota, Ogun State, where top government officials, industry leaders, and international stakeholders gathered to celebrate the milestone.
L-R: Chairman, FIDSON Healthcare Plc Dr. Fidelis Ayebae, Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Professor Christianah Mojisola Adeyeye, and Chairman of SAM Pharmaceutical Limited, Mr Amit Bhojwani at the official commissioning of the ultramodern factory plant of SAM Pharmaceutical Limited, Sango-Ota, Ogun State.
Among dignitaries present were Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele; Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Isiaka Salako; India’s Consul General, Kannan Chockalingham; former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo; and Chairman of FIDSON Healthcare Plc, Fidelis Ayebae.
Adeyeye said the growth being witnessed in the pharmaceutical sector is the result of consistent regulatory reforms and targeted policies, particularly NAFDAC’s “five plus five” policy and the “ceiling list,” which have encouraged local manufacturing and capacity expansion.
She noted that NAFDAC’s achievement of the World Health Organization’s Maturity Level 3 (ML3) status—the first in Sub-Saharan Africa—has positioned Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry for global competitiveness, with ambitions to attain ML4 and ultimately the World Listed Authority (WLA) status.
“Quality is synonymous with trade. When quality is built into products, trade will be enhanced,” she said, adding that contract manufacturing in Nigeria has increased sixfold due to policies encouraging local production or partnerships with domestic manufacturers.
Also speaking, Chockalingham attributed the sector’s growth to Nigeria’s improving regulatory framework and business environment, pledging India’s continued support in technology transfer and capacity building.
In his remarks, Ayebae commended Adeyeye’s leadership, noting that the industry has witnessed significant expansion under her tenure.
He revealed that the ratio of imported to locally manufactured medicines has improved from 70:30 to 50:50, while the industry itself has grown threefold.
He added that new factories are emerging and existing ones are being upgraded, creating jobs and boosting capacity, particularly in Ogun State.
Chairman of SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited, Amit Bhojwani, described NAFDAC as a key partner in the company’s growth, praising the agency for enforcing high standards that have made “Made-in-Nigeria” products globally competitive.
The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Salako-Oyedele, described the state as a hub of industrial development, reiterating the government’s commitment to improving the ease of doing business and supporting pharmaceutical manufacturers.
Salako, the Minister of State for Health, highlighted the Federal Government’s renewed focus on strengthening the healthcare value chain, noting that recent reforms and executive orders under President Bola Tinubu are driving local manufacturing and enhancing medicine security.
He disclosed that 87 local pharmaceutical companies are benefiting from incentives, including zero tariffs on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials, as part of broader efforts to revitalise the sector.
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The minister added that Nigeria is making strides in pharmaceutical innovation, including recent World Health Organization prequalification of locally produced medicines and the establishment of advanced manufacturing facilities for diagnostics and active pharmaceutical ingredients.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the sector through policy reforms, investment mobilisation, and research development, while urging manufacturers to ensure that cost reductions translate into affordable medicines for Nigerians.
The commissioning of the SAM Pharmaceuticals facility is seen as a significant boost to Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and aligns with ongoing efforts to achieve health security, economic growth, and job creation.
