As part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare value chain and reduce dependence on imports, the Federal Government has announced plans to boost local manufacturing of health, immunisation, and nutrition commodities.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who revealed this in Abuja during the Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum, said the move aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC).
He explained that President Tinubu’s Executive Order on local production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices marked a turning point for the sector, noting that the administration is focused on promoting investment, innovation, and accountability through public-private collaboration.
As part of the forum, the Federal Government, the European Union (EU), and ECOWAS signed three key agreements:
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Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria (ELM-N)
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Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards (Qualimeds Nigeria)
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Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in West Africa
The agreements, under the EU’s Global Gateway MAV+ initiative, are expected to support a new generation of local producers and innovators building a stronger and more resilient health ecosystem across Nigeria and the region.
Represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Public Health, Shettima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for investors, saying, “Nigeria’s health transformation will not be driven by aid alone but by ownership, accountability, and innovation, made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians”.
Speaking further, the EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, said the agreements demonstrate Team Europe’s commitment to building robust and inclusive health systems.
He highlighted the EU’s ongoing €45 million reproductive health project in Nigeria and €25 million regional programme in West Africa, implemented with AFD and the Gates Foundation.
On his part, Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Bagudu, described the partnerships as a win-win for Nigeria and Europe, while Health Minister Prof. Muhammad Pate reaffirmed that local production is central to Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Health Agenda, aimed at expanding access to essential medicines and strengthening health security.
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