Daniel Otera
Nigeria’s healthcare system is standing at a critical crossroads. With 99% of medical devices, 70% of essential medicines, and virtually all vaccines imported, the country’s reliance on foreign supplies has become a glaring vulnerability especially for a nation of over 250 million people. The revelation, made by Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, at the SPAN Innovation 2025 conference in Lagos, underscores a systemic fragility that demands urgent reform.
“This is not sustainable,” Mukhtar declared, setting the tone for a conversation that goes beyond statistics and into the heart of Nigeria’s development dilemma.
The numbers are staggering. Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical device markets are dominated by imports, leaving the country exposed to global supply chain shocks, currency fluctuations, and geopolitical tensions. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these risks, with vaccine access delays and inflated costs for basic medical supplies.
Mukhtar’s keynote address highlighted a bold ambition: to increase local production of essential healthcare products to 70% by 2030. The initiative, launched in 2023, also aims to reduce outbound medical tourism currently costing Nigeria over $1 billion annually and create jobs by expanding the pharmaceutical and laboratory science workforce.
But ambition alone won’t suffice. The challenge lies in execution.
“Science is not a luxury,” Mukhtar insisted. “It is the compass that guides development, and the laboratory is where that journey begins.” His words echo a growing consensus that Nigeria must invest in scientific infrastructure—not just for healthcare, but for agriculture, environmental protection, and engineering.
The June 2024 Executive Order signed by President Bola Tinubu, which removed tariffs and VAT on select pharmaceutical inputs and machinery, was a step in the right direction. It signalled a policy shift aimed at lowering production costs and boosting competitiveness. Yet, the impact of such reforms depends on how quickly and effectively they are implemented.
Dr. Kate Isa, President of SPAN, raised a critical point often overlooked in global health discourse: the mismatch between Western-developed medical solutions and African genetic realities. “We really have no option but to wake up from our long slumber and begin to search for solutions for our people,” she said, citing the underrepresentation of black Africans in global medical research.
Her call for home-grown innovation is not just about pride it’s about precision. Personalised medicine, AI-driven diagnostics, and gene-based therapies must reflect the genetic diversity of the populations they serve. Nigeria’s scientific community, she argued, has the talent and tools to bridge this gap.
At the state level, Lagos is already making strides. Chief Kayode Bello of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency showcased the state’s transition to digital environmental monitoring. “We can now measure noise pollution and air quality remotely, without deploying field officers,” he said, positioning Lagos as a regional leader in tech-driven governance.
Similarly, Opeyemi Eniola, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Education, highlighted youth-led research initiatives in public schools.
“We are not just building infrastructure; we are building minds,” he said, pointing to students who have developed devices that earned them international recognition.
The SPAN Innovation 2025 conference concluded with a pledge to formalise partnerships between the Presidential Initiative and scientific stakeholders. But the real test lies ahead. Can Nigeria move from policy to production? From ambition to action?
The answer will determine not just the future of its healthcare system, but its place in the global scientific community. As Mukhtar noted, “Africa is 1.4 billion people. This is a huge market.” The question is whether Nigeria will lead that market or continue to depend on it.