The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has recently conducted a significant workshop in Ikeja aimed at enhancing the knowledge and practical skills of stakeholders involved in active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing.
APIs are crucial elements of pharmaceutical products responsible for their therapeutic effects.
According to The PUNCH, the event, titled ‘Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain: Second Regional Workshop on Manufacturing Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients and Excipients in Nigeria’, spanned two days and concluded on Tuesday.
NAFDAC emphasized the importance of capacity building for regulators and local manufacturers to improve access to safe, effective, and affordable medicines.
NAFDAC Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, highlighted the recent executive order, noting its potential to ease the importation of manufacturing goods by reducing customs duties and fees.
She stressed the workshop’s role in preparing stakeholders for manufacturing, stating, “This workshop is essential for preparing us before we start manufacturing. If we lack the capacity and understanding of what we’re working with, it’s only a matter of time before we fail. We are committed to building quality from the beginning, which involves capacitating regulators, manufacturers, and the future workforce. It’s about being mentally and intellectually prepared before we start manufacturing.”
Adeyeye also revealed ongoing projects, such as Emzor’s new facility for antimalarials and a consortium led by FIDSON focused on producing analgesics, antibiotics, and cardiovascular medicines.
She emphasized that NAFDAC’s dedication, supported by partners like WHO, the Gates Foundation, USAID, and USP, is crucial for sustainable success.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Food and Drug Administration and Control, Mr. Uchenna Okonkwo, noted the legislative efforts to support pharmaceutical manufacturing.
He remarked, “As legislators, we can enact laws to facilitate manufacturing in Nigeria. For example, the executive arm has already helped by allowing no VAT and no levies on the importation of active ingredients for pharmaceutical manufacturing. Our role is to ensure that these ingredients and laws passed by the executive translate into better productivity, efficiency, and efficacy in the pharmaceutical and food manufacturing industries.”
Dr. Jude Nwokike from the United States Pharmacopeia discussed their role in setting standards for medical products and APIs, saying, “We are here as part of the Promoting the Quality of Medicine Plus program, funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Our work, as staff of the United States Pharmacopeia, involves setting standards for medical products and active ingredients. These standards guide regulators and the industry to ensure that medical products are of the highest quality.”
Dr. Walter Mulombo of WHO Nigeria emphasized the workshop’s significance in reducing Nigeria’s reliance on imported APIs.
He noted, “Currently, Nigeria, like many African countries, depends heavily on imported APIs, with over 90 per cent being sourced from abroad. We need to rethink our approach to health products for our continent and developing nations. This workshop is a significant step towards enabling Nigeria to start producing APIs locally.”
Mulombo reassured that local manufacturing does not imply compromised quality, highlighting WHO’s support for NAFDAC at policy and regulation levels.
