87 Pharma Manufacturers Benefit From Govt Incentives — Industry Gets Major Boost

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, attributed the sector’s growth to consistent regulatory reforms, including the “five plus five” policy and the “ceiling list,” which she said have encouraged local investment and expanded production capacity. She added that Nigeria’s regulatory framework has now been re-benchmarked to World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, making it the first in sub-Saharan Africa to achieve the status after re-evaluation, with efforts ongoing to reach higher global standards. According to her, strengthened regulation has driven a sixfold increase in local manufacturers as investors respond positively to a more stable regulatory environment. Stakeholders, including India’s Consul General, Kannan Chockalingham, and FIDSON Healthcare Plc Chairman, Fidelis Ayebae, also credited policy consistency and regulatory improvements for the sector’s expansion, noting a shift in the balance between imported and locally produced medicines from 70–30 to 50–50. The Chairman of SAM Pharmaceuticals Limited, Amit Bhojwani, and Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, further reaffirmed support for industrial growth, ease of doing business, and investment-friendly policies aimed at boosting employment and strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare manufacturing capacity.