The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) has said it is targeting 70 per cent local drug production, calling on the Federal Government to urgently implement forward-looking policies to reduce energy costs and make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and life science sectors competitive and investment-friendly.

This call was made during a media briefing in Lagos to announce the 8th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo (NPME 2026), scheduled to hold on September 28 and 29 at Harbour Point, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Representing the Chairman of PMG-MAN and Managing Director/CEO of Daily-Need Industries Limited, Oluwatosin Jolayemi, the Chairman of the Exhibition Planning Committee, Dr. Patrick Ajah, stated that addressing operational bottlenecks will drive sustained investments, boost local drug production, and help the country achieve full medicine security.

Dr. Ajah, who is also the Managing Director/CEO of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, noted that the sector has expanded remarkably from just 20 pioneer members in 1983 to over 200 manufacturing companies today.

He emphasised that the industry remains resolute in its commitment to reversing Nigeria’s over-reliance on imported medicines.

“The expo, themed “Regional Manufacturing: Advancing Africa’s Pharma and Life Science Sovereignty through Localisation,” will bring together manufacturers, policymakers, investors, technology providers, and other critical stakeholders to discuss the essentials of robust local pharmaceutical production,” Ajah stated.

Shift Towards Local Manufacturing

Providing a statistical overview of the industry’s progress, the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of PMG-MAN, Pharm. Frank Muonemeh, revealed that Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector has recorded significant milestones in recent years.

Citing data from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Muonemeh highlighted a massive paradigm shift toward local manufacturing, noting that the volume of imported finished pharmaceuticals has plummeted from 4.03 billion units down to 1.13 billion units as of 2025.

Burden Of Energy Costs

Despite these gains, the PMG-MAN boss warned that high energy costs and systemic delays in the clearance of pharmaceutical inputs remain existential threats to the competitiveness of local manufacturers.

“Companies are currently spending more than 40 percent of their revenue on electricity and alternative power generation. This is in stark contrast to competitors in countries like China and India, where energy accounts for less than 10 per cent of their operational costs,” Muonemeh explained.

To bridge this gap, he urged the government to introduce targeted interventions, such as dedicated industrial energy tariffs, while strengthening regulatory policies that encourage the local production of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) and other essential manufacturing inputs.

Call For Policy Stability

To consolidate the current gains and attract further foreign and domestic investments, PMG-MAN made a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu to review the Presidential Executive Order supporting the pharmaceutical sector.

The group is asking for the current two-year cycle to be extended to a five-year framework, arguing that longer-term policy stability is crucial for investors.

The upcoming NPME 2026 expo is expected to serve as a launchpad for advancing medicine security across the continent, with deep-dive discussions focused on technology transfer, regulatory harmonisation, market access, contract manufacturing, joint ventures, and cross-border market integration. (Channels TV)