Lagos State is taking steps to improve access to quality medications by establishing a new drug manufacturing agency, according to the state’s Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi. He announced the initiative during the opening of the 7th Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers’ Expo in Lagos on Wednesday.
The Expo, which is the largest pharmaceutical exhibition in Central and West Africa, was organized by the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN) and GPE Expo PVT. Ltd.
The event featured over 100 PMG-MAN members and 55 companies from China and India, all gathered under the theme “Fostering Partnership and Innovation to Unlock the Pharma Manufacturing Value Chain in Nigeria, Central and West Africa.”
Prof. Abayomi revealed that the Lagos State Government is currently drafting a law to create the new drug management agency, which will soon be presented to the cabinet before being passed on to the Lagos Assembly for approval.
He noted that several other states in Nigeria have already established similar agencies and that Lagos is now moving forward due to its numerous industrial platforms, especially those in Lagos and neighboring Ogun State.
“This will enable Lagos not only to promote local manufacturing, but to also promote the idea of total quality assurance, including random testing alongside NAFDAC, and form a collaboration with the private sector,” Abayomi said. He praised PMG-MAN for their efforts in driving local production to ensure drug sufficiency in Nigeria.
