Healthcare stakeholders have called on West African governments to set a 10-year target to end drug importation, stressing the need to strengthen local pharmaceutical manufacturing and improve regional health security.
The call was made on Wednesday at the Pharma West Africa Exhibition and Conference 2026, held in Lagos, where industry leaders, policymakers, and regulators gathered to discuss supply chain resilience under the theme “Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Strengthening in West Africa.”
In his keynote address, medical expert Dr Olamide Okulaja said approximately 70 per cent of drugs consumed in Nigeria are imported, describing the level of dependence as unacceptable.
He noted that the region has the capacity to reverse the trend within a decade if governments provide stronger support for local pharmaceutical companies.
Okulaja emphasized that pharmaceutical manufacturing should be treated as a national security priority, adding that harmonising drug quality standards across West Africa would boost regional trade and unlock opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
Also speaking, former Minister of Health, Prince Julius Adeluyi, said Africa must build a self-sufficient pharmaceutical industry to improve access to essential medicines and medical supplies.
He noted that weak local production continues to limit availability and affordability of drugs across the continent.
Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, disclosed that the state government is implementing mandatory health insurance while developing the Lagos State Medical Industry and Innovation Zone.
According to him, the initiative includes designated spaces within Lekki Free Trade Zones aimed at promoting innovation, investment, and growth in the healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors.
Chairman of the planning committee, Mr Ahmed Yakasai, also called for deliberate government intervention to strengthen local pharmaceutical capacity, warning that over-reliance on imports poses risks to national development.
He stressed the importance of positioning pharmacists at the centre of healthcare delivery, particularly at the primary care level, to ensure effective drug administration and regulation.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said Nigeria has made measurable progress in boosting local drug production.
She revealed that the country has improved from a 70:30 import-to-local production ratio to about 50:50, noting that sustained policy support is required to achieve long-term self-sufficiency.
Stakeholders at the conference agreed that reducing dependence on imported drugs is critical to strengthening healthcare systems, improving access to medicines, and driving economic growth across West Africa.
Written by Olusegun Haastrup