The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has said her heart ached for local manufacturers until President Tinubu took over from Buhari.
Professor Adeyeye, who was appointed NAFDAC DG under ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, said local manufacturers of drug and food-related products, except for water, had been having a hard time due to import tariffs.
Mrs Adeyeye said this on Saturday while reacting to an Executive Order signed by President Tinubu on Friday.
The Order aimed at increasing local production of healthcare products (pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, devices such as needles and syringes, biologicals, medical textiles, etc.), according to Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, introduced “introduces zero tariffs, excise duties and VAT on specified machinery, equipment and raw materials, aiming to reduce production costs and enhance our local manufacturers’ competitiveness.”
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Professor Adeyeye said the Executive Order has set stage for a sustainable and high-quality healthcare system for all Nigerians. She said the Executive Order has also addressed core challenges and provided a clear path for improvement.
“The President’s EO underscores his administration’s commitment to transforming Nigeria’s health sector. It aligns with the broader objectives of the NHSRII and the Presidential Initiative on Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), approved in October 2023. This EO sets the stage for a sustainable and high-quality healthcare system for all Nigerians by addressing core challenges and providing a clear path for improvement.
She said high cost and challenges associated with importation of materials needed for manufacturing were an “open sore”. She expressed delight that President Tinubu’s Order closed the “sore” and healed her “ached” heart.
“The perennial and persistent costly challenge of importation of all materials needed for manufacturing (except water) by local manufacturers became an open sore. As Director General, my professional heart ached for local manufacturers considering the import duties they have to pay for all materials, some packaging materials and equipment.
“Then came the Tinubu Administration, and then the administration of the cerebral Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Mohammed Ali Pate, and Coordinating Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who put the interest of the 200 million plus Nigerians before their interest. Then the unimaginable started happening—giving local manufacturers a chance to excel and be competitive,” Professor Adeyeye added.
