Angela Onwuzoo The Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Professor Martins Emeje, has said the solution to the country’s dependency on drug importation lies in prioritising local research and development to boost local production. Emeje, a professor of Pharmacy, said Nigeria could develop herbal medicines to cure many diseases that appear incurable through orthodox medicines if it invests in local production of medicines. The don who spoke at a recent event in Lagos to mark his one year in office, said the prioritisation of research and development for local drug production will not only make drugs more affordable to Nigerians but also contribute to the country’s self-sufficiency in healthcare.

The NNMDA boss maintained that local drug production remains key to affordable medicines in Nigeria. In 2019, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said Nigeria imports 70 per cent of the medicine being consumed in the country. The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof.

Mojisola Adeyeye who disclosed the figure said the remaining 30 percent were being produced by local manufacturers. Emeje emphasised that Nigeria needed to harness its abundant bio-resources to improve healthcare delivery. He said, “The answer to expensive imported drugs lies in prioritising local research and development for domestic drug production.

“This approach will not only make medicines more affordable but also contribute to Nigeria’s self-sufficienc.