Nigerian pharma trade group optimistic on export opportunities

The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMGMAN) has expressed optimism that the recent Executive Orders given by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the Support for Local Content in Public Procurement will lead to export of Nigerian medicines abroad, according to a report by Martins Ifjeh in This Day newspaper.

Stating this during the recent 4th Nigerian Pharma Manufacturers Expo in Lagos, PMGMAN chairman Okey Akpa, said the executive order directs the mandatory patronage of locally-manufactured medicines by all government ministries, departments and agencies, adding that the policy is expected to accelerate the growth and development of the local pharmaceutical manufacturing sector.

"Another recent development that demonstrates the efficacy of our new partnership model is the public-private partnership, signed by the federal government with a local firm to produce vaccines in Nigeria. While signing the agreement on behalf of the government, the Minister of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, stated that the need to ensure medicines' security for the nation was a key factor that underpinned the partnership. There is robust evidence to show that this concept was developed intrinsically by PMGMAN," Mr Akpa added.