The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain has revealed that Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturers have accessed about ₦26 billion under the federal government’s healthcare industrialisation programme.
The disclosure was made by the National Coordinator of the initiative, Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, during a review meeting of the Technical Working Group overseeing the implementation of the presidential executive order on local manufacturing of drugs and healthcare products.
According to him, data obtained from Customs indicates that 63 pharmaceutical companies—representing about 55 percent of eligible firms—have already benefited from the policy since its introduction nearly a year ago.
Mukhtar said the initiative is beginning to show tangible results, including improved competitiveness for local manufacturers, increased production capacity, and more stable pricing of essential medicines in the country.
He added that the programme is also creating employment opportunities and strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to produce quality healthcare products locally, reducing dependence on imports.
With the executive order approaching its expiration timeline, stakeholders at the meeting also reviewed proposals to expand participation to more manufacturers and additional product categories, while considering recommendations for the policy’s next phase.
The session brought together representatives from key government institutions including the Ministries of Health and Industry, the Nigeria Customs Service, the Nigeria Revenue Service, NAFDAC, SON, and other regulatory agencies involved in the healthcare and manufacturing ecosystem.