Federal Government Moves To Ready Local Drug Manufacturers For Who Certification

The Federal Government has disclosed that Nigerian pharmaceutical companies are recording significant progress toward achieving prequalification standards set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), following sustained efforts to strengthen local drug production and enhance medicine security in the country.

According to Ireporter Online, the initiative is being driven through a coordinated programme implemented by the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in partnership with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), with support from the World Bank. The intervention is aimed at improving compliance with international manufacturing standards, boosting local pharmaceutical capacity, and positioning Nigerian firms for participation in global medicine procurement.

The Director-General of NIPRD, Dr. Obi Adigwe, said the programme has delivered notable improvements in technical capacity and regulatory compliance among participating manufacturers. He noted that technical understanding among the firms rose from 33.3 per cent to 86.7 per cent, while 13 out of 19 identified critical gaps have been successfully addressed.

He stressed that strengthening domestic drug production is central to national stability, warning that overdependence on imported medicines exposes the country to risks affecting equity, economic resilience, and national security. He added that local manufacturers have transitioned from uncertainty to a firm commitment to meeting WHO prequalification requirements.

Also speaking, the IMPACT Project Lead at NIPRD, Mr. Okefu Okoko, described the development as a major milestone for Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector, noting that achieving WHO certification for antimalarial drugs would mark a breakthrough capable of boosting medicine security and enabling local firms to compete in the global supply chain.

Project Lead Consultant, Desola Arowolo, attributed the progress to better alignment with international standards, explaining that many companies were already adopting good manufacturing practices but required refinement to meet global expectations. She added that the programme facilitated the development of Common Technical Document dossiers for antimalarial medicines, a key requirement for WHO prequalification.

However, she highlighted funding constraints as a major challenge, noting that scaling up production and meeting global benchmarks require sustained financial support. She further explained that while several firms participated in the programme, only a few completed the current phase, with further expansion dependent on outcomes and policy decisions.

With the current phase concluded, participating companies are expected to continue independently toward full WHO certification, as government efforts intensify to reduce import dependence and strengthen Nigeria’s local pharmaceutical industry.