The federal government says Nigeria is on course to commission at least 11 pharmaceutical manufacturing projects as part of efforts to strengthen local medicine production and expand access to regional markets.

Abdul Muktar, national coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), said this on Friday in Abuja at a stakeholders’ meeting to finalise IMPACT Project activities.

The meeting, themed “Strengthening Local Medicines Manufacturing Capacity: From Concept to Action,” brought together government officials, development partners, regulators and industry stakeholders to review progress and future priorities.

Mr Muktar said the projects are already underway, reflecting growing investor confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector and the country’s increasing attractiveness as a manufacturing destination.

He said the industry was emerging as a major contributor to the economy, with four pharmaceutical companies ranking among the top 10-performing firms on the Nigerian Stock Exchange in 2025.

“Every year traditionally, you only see oil and gas companies and banks, but now pharmaceutical companies are already getting there,” he said.

Mr Muktar urged local manufacturers to look beyond Nigeria’s estimated population of 230 million and target the wider West African market of about 460 million people.

He said Nigeria’s recent accession to the African Medicines Agency (AMA) would facilitate regional trade by reducing the need for multiple regulatory approvals across African countries.

According to him, new investments include diagnostic test kit production facilities in Ogun and Nasarawa states, as well as a technology transfer agreement with Bayer for family planning products in Anambra State.

“One person, one organisation cannot do it alone,” he said, stressing the importance of collaboration among government agencies, development partners, industry players and research institutions.

Earlier, the director-general of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Obi Adigwe, said the IMPACT Project had progressed from policy discussions to practical interventions.

Mr Adigwe, represented by Phillip Builders, head of pharmaceutical technology and raw materials development at NIPRD, said the project was designed to strengthen local manufacturing capacity for safe and quality medicines.

He described pharmaceutical manufacturing as a national development priority and a critical pillar for strengthening health security, industrial growth and economic resilience.

“The global health landscape has repeatedly demonstrated that countries with strong local manufacturing ecosystems are better positioned to respond to public health emergencies,” he said.

Mr Adigwe said the project had trained more than 100 young scientists, researchers and pharmaceutical professionals to support the growth of Nigeria’s medicines ecosystem.

He added that sustainable pharmaceutical production required strong research systems, quality regulation, adequate financing, skilled manpower, innovation and strategic partnerships.

Also speaking, the World Bank Team Lead on the IMPACT Project, Onoriode Ezire, said the bank would continue supporting Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing agenda through a new Health Investment Project.

Mr Ezire said the initiative would provide regulatory support, technical assistance and human capacity development to strengthen local production and improve competitiveness.

He said an earlier two-million-dollar intervention helped local manufacturers attain World Health Organisation prequalification, while a subsequent five-million-dollar support addressed broader manufacturing constraints.

The programme manager for health at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, Anthony Anyeke, described local pharmaceutical manufacturing as essential for health security, economic diversification and sustainable development.

Mr Anyeke said the European Union was supporting Nigeria through its Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Products (MAV+) initiative.

He said the programme promoted regulatory strengthening, workforce development, technology transfer and improved market access across six African countries, including Nigeria.

The director-general of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ifeanyichukwu Okeke, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to strengthening the country’s pharmaceutical quality infrastructure.

Represented by Uduak Udoso, group head of Healthcare Standardisation, Mr Okeke said SON would continue collaborating with NIPRD, NAFDAC, PVAC and other stakeholders to develop standards that encourage innovation and exports.

He urged stakeholders to create an enabling environment that would foster innovation, promote import substitution and expand export opportunities for locally manufactured pharmaceutical products.

(NAN)