The Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, Prof. Martins Emeje, has said the solution to the country’s dependency on drug importation lies in prioritising local research and development to boost local production.
Emeje, a professor of Pharmacy, said Nigeria could develop herbal medicines to cure many diseases that appear incurable through orthodox medicines if it invests in local production of medicines.
The don, who spoke at a recent event in Lagos to mark his one year in office, said the prioritisation of research and development for local drug production will not only make drugs more affordable to Nigerians but also contribute to the country’s self-sufficiency in healthcare.
The NNMDA boss maintained that local drug production remains key to affordable medicines in Nigeria.
In 2019, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control said Nigeria imports 70 per cent of the medicine being consumed in the country.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, who disclosed the figure, said the remaining 30 per cent were being produced by local manufacturers.
Emeje emphasised that Nigeria needed to harness its abundant bio-resources to improve healthcare delivery.
He said, “The answer to expensive imported drugs lies in prioritising local research and development for domestic drug production.
“This approach will not only make medicines more affordable but also contribute to Nigeria’s self-sufficiency in healthcare.
“All we need is a little support and we get there because the essential medicines are costly. They are all imported.”
Highlighting the NNMDA’s achievement, the pharmacist said the agency
had developed four herbal products
for the management of diabetes sickle cell disease, upper respiratory tract infections, and fast aging.
He said the four oral medications that were unveiled in March by the Minister of Innovation Science, and Technology, Uche Nnaji, were developed using only materials sourced within the country.
The professor said the oral medications when locally formulated into tablets could create over three million jobs, adding that NNMDA represents a beacon of hope for the country.
He stated that countries like India and China were prioritising local research and development which he noted had led to job creation and economic growth alongside improved healthcare delivery.
“By harnessing our resources, we will not only make essential medicines more affordable but also create significant job opportunities within Nigeria and potentially across West Africa.
“The beauty of this area of research is that there’s a solid bond– the connection between agriculture and medicine,” he said.
He pointed out that the raw materials for these medications were essentially agricultural products.
He reiterated, “We need to prioritise local research and development, utilising our resources. This, as demonstrated by Asian countries, is key to achieving universal health coverage.”
“By developing these medicinal products, we’re not just creating medicine. We’re also creating functional foods, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements – all derived from Nigerian agriculture.”
Head of Medicine at the Bayero University, Kano and Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Prof. Uloko Andrew whose speech centred on the compatibility of orthodox and natural medicines, stated that many Nigerian doctors had already integrated both approaches.
According to him, most conventional medicines have their origins in plants.
“These natural ingredients are refined and standardised for safety and efficacy in the form of tablets, syrups, etc. Natural medicine doesn’t have to be harmful.
“We advocate for well-researched and refined natural medicines to minimise potential side effects. Just like complementary medicines and supplements used by doctors, these can be valuable additions to healthcare,” Uloko said.
Also speaking, Consul General of India, Chandramalikar Kern commended Emeje’s background in Indian studies while highlighting the importance of natural medicine.
Kern pledged his support for the NNMDA in its efforts to develop indigenous medicines, adding that it would not only benefit Nigerians but also potentially generate foreign exchange for the country in the future.
