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Pharmacists under the auspices of Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), have declared that is it very dangerous for Nigeria to import 70 per cent of its medicines.
The association, while describing the situation as unfortunate and worrisome, appealed to the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to find ways to support local production of drugs and other items in the country.
The pharmacists explained that this will help to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines and position the country as the pharmaceutical hub of Africa.
National Chairman of NAIP, Pharmacist Bankole Ezebuilo, made these declarations during the 29th annual national conference and training of NAIP members held in Ilorin, Kwara State with the theme “Collaboration and Innovation to Build Local Solutions for the Future of Nigeria’s Pharmaceutical Industry”.
The event was attended by Commissioner for Finance in Kwara State, Dr Hauwa Nuru, Commissioner for Social Welfare Dr Mariam Nana Fatima Imam, Commissioner for Communication, Hon. Bolanle Olukoju, and Executive Secretary of the Hospital Management Board, Abdulraheem Abdulmalik.
Others are past Presidents of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), such as Mohammed Yaro Budah, Azubike Okwor, Olumide Akintayo, Ahmed Iyakassai, and Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, PSN President, Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim who was represented by Gafar Lanre Madehin, Registrar, Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, Ibrahim Babashehu Ahmed.
Ezebuilo, in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday at the end of the programme, insisted that Nigeria is now at a critical crossroads because of over dependence on imported drugs.
He said that a nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health.
He explained that Nigeria must choose between continued dependence on imported medicines or the pursuit of pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production of drugs and other related items.
Ezebuilo also advised the federal government to declare a national emergency on pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He said “No nation can outsource its health security. Nigeria currently imports more than 70 percent of its medicines, a situation dangerous to national healthcare stability and economic sustainability.
“Nigeria is now at a critical crossroads where it must choose between continued dependence on imported medicines or the pursuit of pharmaceutical sovereignty through aggressive local production.
“Federal Government to declare a national emergency on pharmaceutical manufacturing and implement policies capable of transforming Nigeria into the definitive pharmaceutical manufacturing hub in Africa.
“A nation that cannot produce its own medicines is a nation negotiating with its health, and negotiation is not where you want to be when lives are at stake”.
‘It’s dangerous to import 70 per cent of medicines’ – Pharmacists tell Tinubu
