Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector is recording increased foreign investment following the implementation of the 5+5 Policy by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), a strategy aimed at strengthening local drug manufacturing.
Introduced in 2018 by the agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, the policy has encouraged foreign pharmaceutical firms to establish production facilities in Nigeria or partner with local companies to manufacture medicines domestically.
Speaking in Abuja during a visit by Indonesia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, Adeyeye said the initiative is already transforming Nigeria’s pharmaceutical landscape.
She attributed the growing investor confidence to Nigeria’s attainment of Maturity Level 3 status by the World Health Organization, alongside its 2025 recertification for regulating medicines and vaccines.
She also highlighted the role of NAFDAC’s Biologics and Vaccines Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, in enhancing the country’s regulatory and production capacity.
Adeyeye reiterated NAFDAC’s commitment to supporting investors interested in establishing local manufacturing plants, noting that the policy is designed to reduce dependence on imported drugs, improve access to quality medicines, and ensure national drug security.
The 5+5 Policy requires companies to transition from importation to local production within a specified timeframe. Product licenses are valid for five years, during which firms must present plans for local manufacturing by the fourth year. Compliance allows for a further five-year renewal under close regulatory monitoring.
She added that beyond strengthening the pharmaceutical industry, the initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth, build local capacity, and expand access to essential medicines.
In his remarks, Ambassador Suharto praised Adeyeye’s leadership, describing her as pragmatic and committed to advancing Nigeria’s healthcare system. He also expressed Indonesia’s interest in strengthening ties with NAFDAC through a Memorandum of Understanding to boost trade, technical cooperation, and capacity development between both countries.