The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has called on the government to protect the industry against various kinds of international politics such as free trade, open borders and others that are capable of crippling the sector.
The Group made this call during the sixth Nigeria Pharma Manufacturers Expo, ‘An international exhibition on complete pharma manufacturing, tagged ‘Advancing the frontiers of medicine security in Nigeria, expanding local pharma manufacturing in the era of AfCTA’.
During his opening speech, the Chairman PMG-MAN, Dr Fidelis Ayebae, charged the policymakers to come up with a mechanism that would protect the industry through policy, regulations and other mechanisms.
He said this measure would ensure that the industry grows, noting that billions of dollars of investment with over 10 million direct and indirect employees within the manufacturing sector of the Pharmaceutical industry should not be left unprotected.
He warned that the country was yet to attain the level of free trade and open border policy as being practised by the West.
According to him, “A lot of industries in Nigeria would need to be protected, chief of which is the manufacturing pharmaceutical industry. If you do not protect this industry, we stand the chance of exposing our people to the vagaries of international politics, when there are pandemics, epidemics or shortages of even API’s around the world.
“No country would export products simply to make money, when they have a need for those products in their own country amongst their people. And so, it is incumbent on policymakers to protect most of our industries that are today at risk.”
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