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Local pharmaceutical companies poised to boost medicine production – PMG-MAN
The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (PMG-MAN), says local pharmaceutical manufacturers are poised to leverage the lacuna created by the exit of foreign pharmaceutical companies to boost medicine production.
Mr Oluwatosin Jolayemi, Chairman, (PMG-MAN) and Managing Director of Daily-Need Industries Ltd, said this in an interview with The Tide source on Saturday in Lagos.
The Tide source reports that pharmaceutical companies including GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi Nigeria Ltd, exited the country due to challenges with foreign exchange, ease of doing business, multiple taxation, importation bureaucracy, among others.
Jolayemi said that the industry was ready, noting that between six to 11 pharmaceutical factories were poised to produce products that GSK, Sanofi and other pharmaceutical companies had produced.
“Maybe there are some SKUs that we do not have capacity for. The ones that we have capacity for, which is the bulk of what they bring into the country, we are ready for.
“But the issue is that medicine is not just like sewing clothes or buying shoes. There is a process to manufacture medicine.
“But we are ready in the industry because we have between 6 and 11 factories that are poised to produce those products that GSK, Sanofi and others have. And because most of these products are generic, we are poised to produce them,” he said.
He emphasised that the government must have a policy statement and be deliberate to ensure local pharmaceutical companies fill the gaps and thrive through an enabling environment and business-friendly regulation.
“Either the government or NAFDAC has to be able to take advantage and let the local industry take advantage of the lacuna.
“And give priorities so that the prices of drugs, particularly these antibiotics could come down.
“But, as long as we are still holding on to the bottlenecks, the problem continues to linger, and the cost of medicines remains high,” he said.
On bottlenecks that should be addressed, Jolayemi cited issues with regulation and the process of registration.
“We are not asking for the standard to be dropped. We are just asking that we should work together in the interest of the populace and see how we can begin to make these products available.
“Because these products are generic. They are not rocket science. They are not new molecules. They are old molecules that have been in the market for 20, 30 years.
“So, this is something that we could always work around, but it is left to government and NAFDAC to decide,” he said.
Speaking on the rising cost of medicine, Jolayemi attributed it to fluctuating foreign exchange rate, indiscriminate custom tariff regime, high cost of electricity tariff and operating cost, among others.
He stressed that it was cheaper to produce locally, noting that active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) and excipients are mostly imported by manufacturers.
Jolayemi disclosed that a German company and another consortium are currently investing in API manufacturing.
“They are doing the formal analysis. And we hope that if those ones come on board, they cannot supply all the APIs that are required in the industry.
“But at least they will be able to take care of the usual regular ones that are common to use in the industry,” he said.
The Chairman urged the Federal Government to assist manufacturers with soft loans and grants to boost production as done by the governments of India and China.
“Government needs to encourage pharmaceutical companies because APIs and medicine are national issues.
“The government needs to see healthcare as a national policy and begin to take it like that because if you have hospitals, no matter how beautiful your hospitals are, if there are no medicines, the hospital just becomes a consulting unit,” he said.
Jolayemi emphasised that the government must prioritise healthcare, especially medicine production, availability and affordability for its citizens.
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The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has directed his lawyers to withdraw all ongoing defamation lawsuits against several individuals, saying he was moved by counsel during a New Year Mass.
Speaking at the Sacred Heart Parish in Uyo, yesterday, Akpabio said he had filed nearly nine lawsuits against individuals he accused of defaming him.
He said, “I had almost nine cases in court against some individuals who defamed me, who lied against me, who slandered my name.
“But I listened to the priest and suddenly realised he was talking to me, so I hereby direct my solicitor to withdraw all lawsuits against them.”
In 2025, Akpabio had filed several high-profile defamation lawsuits, including one against colleague Senator Natasha Akpoti?Uduaghan.
In late 2025, Akpabio filed a N200 billion defamation lawsuit against her over allegations of sexual harassment, which he denied and urged her to substantiate in court.
Earlier in the year, Akpabio’s wife also filed defamation suits against Akpoti?Uduaghan over claims she said had harmed her family’s reputation.
Relations between the two lawmakers soured after Akpoti?Uduaghan accused Akpabio of influencing her suspension from the Senate in March 2025, following her public allegations of misconduct.
The Senator had previously challenged actions taken against her in court, including a N100 billion defamation suit she filed against Akpabio and other defendants over alleged remarks that she said damaged her reputation.
With yesterday’s announcement, Akpabio has formally ended all pending legal disputes arising from defamation claims, signalling closure to the publicised litigations as the year begins.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that the best form of gratitude Rivers people owe President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for protecting the interest of the State is to galvanize massive support for the President in 2027.
Fubara disclosed this last Monday during the commissioning of Permanent Secretaries Quarters built by his administration at Elimgbu in Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the State.
He said that the State has what it takes to deliver the President during the 2027 general elections.
“We’ve taken a decision,our decision is for the good of Rivers State, our decision is to say thank you for the protection we have from Mr President, our decision is to prove that we have what it takes to deliver Mr President.”
Fubara expressed delight over the completion of the project, stating that the initiative was to provide accommodation, a basic need of life for public servants in the state to improve their productivity.
He explained that lack of effective social welfare was at the root of some incriminating actions that undermine the purpose of governance, noting that the commissioning of the newly built Permanent Secretaries Quarters marks a significant milestone in civil service welfare and institutional development.
“Insecurity begins when individuals are uncertain of what the next hour holds. This situation is especially challenging for family men and women, affecting confidence and decision-making,” he observed.
Fubara emphasized the need for proper maintenance of the facility and urged the beneficiaries to protect the project like a personal property, while directing the State Head of Service to appoint a facility manager to ensure long-term maintenance.
In her remarks, the Special Guest of Honour and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who unveiled the project, expressed appreciation to the governor and Rivers State for inviting her to commission the project.
She commended Fubara for prioritizing the welfare of Permanent Secretaries who are senior public servants and accounting officers, noting that the project reflects purposeful and visionary leadership, and urged other states to borrow a cue from the Rivers State Governor.
Walson-Jack described the initiative as a strategic investment in staff welfare and institutional continuity which she noted is in line with Renewed Hope Initiative on provision of mass housing and social stability.
“The commissioning of these houses reflect a deliberate commitment to the dignity, welfare, and productivity of senior public servants responsible for policy coordination and service delivery,” she said.
In his goodwill message, the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Ajibode Bashiru, who led a high powered delegation on a visit to the governor, congratulated Rivers people for aligning with the Pan Nigerian political party, assuring that the interest of Rivers State will be duly protected in the APC.
He described President Bola Tinubu as a detribalised Nigerian who anchors his leadership on equity, fairness and justice, adding that the APC will provide a level playing ground for all.
The APC chief scribe also commended Fubara for providing good accommodation for public servants, stating that it will address issues of sabotage, compromise and disloyalty on the part of public servants.
Giving the project description, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Works, Dr. Austin Ezekiel-Hart, said the estate comprises 29 units, including nine standalone duplexes and 20 terrace buildings.
Facilities feature a water treatment plant, synchronized power generators, CCTV and alarm systems, a gym, recreational areas, and green spaces—designed to enhance comfort, performance, and productivity.
Earlier, the Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr Mrs Inyingi Brown, had thanked the governor for his visionary initiative and unwavering commitment to the welfare of Rivers State Civil Servants, and restated the commitment of the State civil servants to the success of Fubara’s administration.
By: Taneh Beemene
