Nigeria is witnessing increased foreign investment in its pharmaceutical sector following the implementation of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s 5+5 policy, a strategic initiative designed to promote local production of medicines.
The policy, introduced in 2018 by the director-general of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, has begun to yield significant results, with a growing number of foreign investors establishing manufacturing plants in Nigeria or entering into partnerships with indigenous pharmaceutical companies to produce medicines locally.
Speaking Sunday in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, Prof. Adeyeye highlighted the positive impact of the policy on the nation’s pharmaceutical landscape.
She noted that Nigeria’s attainment of the World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, as well as its recertification in 2025 for the regulation of medicines and vaccines, has positioned the country as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical investment.
She said NAFDAC also operates a state-of-the-art Biologics and Vaccines Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, further strengthening Nigeria’s regulatory and production capabilities within Sub-Saharan Africa.
While reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the 5+5 Policy, Prof. Adeyeye assured the ambassador of NAFDAC’s readiness to support prospective investors seeking to establish manufacturing facilities in Nigeria.