Chairman of Fidson Healthcare, Dr Fidelis Ayebae, has linked the growth of Nigeria’s economy to the country’s ability to strengthen local manufacturing, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, saying nations that cannot produce what they consume remain dependent on external sources.
Ayebae made the submission during a panel discussion at the 8th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo organised by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) at Harbour Point, Lagos, where he described domestic pharmaceutical production as an important pathway to economic development and national self-reliance.
“Any country that does not manufacture what it consumes is not making progress,” Ayebae said, stressing that “local manufacturing is the way to go.” He argued that expanding Nigeria’s manufacturing base would not only reduce dependence on imported medicines but also create opportunities for investment, production and participation in the wider African market.
Ayebae identified Nigeria and the wider continent as significant opportunities for pharmaceutical investment, urging international manufacturers to establish production facilities in Africa rather than focus primarily on exporting finished products to the continent. “Africa led by Nigeria is the place to pitch your tent,” he said, specifically inviting Indian pharmaceutical companies to establish manufacturing plants in Nigeria.
“I invite our Indian friends to come and set up plants in Nigeria rather than bring in imported products,” he said, arguing that greater foreign investment in domestic production would strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity while positioning the country to serve the wider African market.
The Fidson chairman also called for closer cooperation between pharmaceutical manufacturers and regulators to protect legitimate local producers from counterfeit medicines, warning that the activities of criminal operators could undermine investment and damage the manufacturing base. “We must protect the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry by cooperating with the regulators. We should not fold our arms and watch criminals destroy our industry by faking products,” he said.
According to Ayebae, protecting legitimate manufacturers and creating an environment that encourages investment are necessary to ensure that local pharmaceutical production can contribute more significantly to Nigeria’s economic development. He therefore urged stakeholders to sustain efforts to strengthen the domestic industry rather than allow the country’s dependence on imported medicines to persist.
His comments came as pharmaceutical manufacturers and other industry stakeholders gathered at the expo to examine investment, regulation, local production and the future of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, with participants highlighting the need for stronger domestic manufacturing capacity and greater collaboration across the sector.
