By Radarr Africa Business Desk
ABUJA, November 12 (Radarr Africa) – Nigeria is expected to begin local production of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) in the first quarter of 2027, the Federal Government said on Wednesday, in a move aimed at cutting the country’s heavy reliance on imported raw materials for medicines.
Mukhtar Abdul, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry (PVAC), made the announcement at the 2026 Joint Annual Review in Abuja on November 11. He said a major pharmaceutical company is preparing an API plant, with operations expected in the first quarter of 2027, which he called a significant milestone for pharmaceutical manufacturing in Africa.
A 2026 KPMG report cited at the event says more than 90 per cent of the APIs and excipients used by Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry are imported.
Abdul outlined other local manufacturing plans, including long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, diagnostic product packaging and manufacturing, expanded medical oxygen production and advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing.
On financing, the Bridge to Scale mechanism, which is donor-supported, aims to lower borrowing costs for pharmaceutical manufacturers and other healthcare value-chain businesses. It also supports cross-border investments, including helping Nigerian firms and regulators set up plants in other African countries. PVAC is targeting support for more than 200 pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, with a focus on financing for small and medium-sized enterprises. A proposed Life Care Fund would be another financing option for healthcare businesses.
PVAC is also working with regulators and industry partners towards World Health Organization regulatory maturity status and local vaccine manufacturing.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), represented at the review by Salihu Bello for Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, reported 5,532 enforcement activities in the review period. These included 213 raids, 211 sanctions and 52 arrests. The agency seized 821 products and shut 179 premises. Through 22 destruction exercises, it destroyed counterfeit and expired products valued at N22.73 billion.
NAFDAC also noted regulatory milestones. Nigeria attained full membership of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, becoming its 24th member, and became the 31st African Union member state to ratify and deposit its instrument of ratification for the African Medicines Agency agreement.
For 2027, NAFDAC’s priorities include attaining WHO Maturity Level 4 and WHO Listed Authority status, stronger enforcement, expanded digital product traceability and deeper international regulatory cooperation.
