In a statement marking World Health Day, Prof. Martins Emeje, the Director-General of Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), emphasized the importance of the federal government prioritizing local drug production.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to address the reduction of foreign drug importation, highlighting the country’s existing infrastructure and skilled workforce capable of manufacturing drugs domestically.
Emeje criticized the longstanding strategy employed by Nigeria since colonial times, suggesting that a strategic shift is necessary to move the country forward.
He emphasized that maintaining the status quo of pharmaceutical import dependence will not yield different results, stressing the need for increased investment in local drug development, research, and manufacturing.
“The key issue lies in the lack of focus on indigenous development, research, and manufacturing. We must promote local drug research, development, and production,” said Prof. Emeje.
He also advocated for enhancing indigenous medicines, emphasizing the importance of placing a greater emphasis on this aspect.
Additionally, Prof. Emeje revealed that the NNMDA is working toward establishing herbal medicine centers in all 774 local government areas across the country, and is currently compiling a comprehensive database of traditional medicine practitioners and their offered products and services.
“We have initiated the project in Alimosho local government with an estimated cost of N500 billion, intending to use it as a model for replication nationwide,” he elaborated.