By Seun Ibiyemi
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has reported a significant rise in foreign investment in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, attributing the development to the successful implementation of its 5+5 Policy.
The policy, introduced in 2018 by NAFDAC’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, is designed to promote local drug manufacturing by encouraging foreign pharmaceutical firms to establish production facilities in Nigeria or partner with indigenous companies.
Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by Indonesia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, Adeyeye said the initiative has strengthened local capacity and reduced the country’s dependence on imported medicines.
She noted that Nigeria’s attainment of World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3 status, along with its 2025 recertification for the regulation of medicines and vaccines, has boosted investor confidence in the sector.
According to her, the establishment of NAFDAC’s state-of-the-art Biologics and Vaccines Laboratory in Lagos has further enhanced Nigeria’s regulatory and production capabilities.
Adeyeye reiterated the agency’s commitment to supporting investors under the 5+5 Policy, describing it as a strategic import-to-local production framework that mandates companies to transition to domestic manufacturing within a specified period.
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She emphasized that the policy remains critical to improving access to quality medicines, strengthening drug security, and driving economic growth in the country.
In his remarks, Ambassador Suharto commended NAFDAC’s leadership and expressed Indonesia’s willingness to deepen collaboration with Nigeria through a Memorandum of Understanding focused on trade, technical exchange, and capacity building.
