NAFDAC’s 5+5 policy attracts foreign investment, boosts local drug production

In a move to achieve drug self-sufficiency, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control’s 5+5 Policy has begun transforming Nigeria into a hub for pharmaceutical investment.

By requiring international brands to migrate toward local production, the agency noted on Monday that the policy is successfully facilitating the transfer of technology and capital.

This shift is seeing more foreign entities establishing a physical presence in Nigeria and partnering with local manufacturers to meet domestic demand.

Introduced in 2018 by the Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the initiative is designed to transition pharmaceutical companies from importation to local production within a defined timeframe.

Speaking in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto, Adeyeye said Nigeria’s improved regulatory environment has further boosted investor confidence.

She highlighted the country’s attainment of World Health Organization Maturity Level 3 and its 2025 recertification for the regulation of medicines and vaccines as key milestones.

According to her, NAFDAC’s biologics and vaccines laboratory in Lagos has also strengthened the country’s capacity for quality assurance and local production.

Adeyeye reiterated that the 5+5 Policy remains central to improving access to quality medicines, enhancing drug security and driving economic growth.

In his remarks, Suharto commended the agency’s leadership and expressed Indonesia’s interest in strengthening collaboration with Nigeria through a Memorandum of Understanding focused on trade, technical exchange and capacity building.