By Joyce Remi Babayeju
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has lured increased foreign investment into Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector as it intensifies implementation of its “5+5 Policy,” a strategy designed to boost local production of medicines.
The 5+5 initiative introduced in 2018 by the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, is yielding positive outcomes, with foreign investors establishing manufacturing facilities in Nigeria and partnering with local pharmaceutical firms.
Prof. Adeyeye disclosed this in Abuja when the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Bambang Suharto paid courtesy visit to her office in Abuja.
The NAFDAC DG outlined the policy’s growing impact on the nation’s pharmaceutical landscape.
She disclosed that Nigeria’s rising attractiveness to investors is due to its attainment of Maturity Level 3 status by the World Health Organization, alongside its recertification in 2025 for the regulation of medicines and vaccines.
She further noted that the agency’s state-of-the-art Biologics and Vaccines Laboratory in Yaba, Lagos, has enhanced Nigeria’s regulatory strength and production capacity, positioning the country as a key pharmaceutical hub in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to the 5+5 Policy while assuring
prospective investors of regulatory support in establishing local manufacturing plants.
According to her, the policy is aimed at improving drug security, reducing reliance on imports, and strengthening domestic production.
“The 5+5 Policy, also known as the Five Plus Five-Year Validity Policy, provides for an initial five-year product registration, during which companies are expected to transition to local production by the fourth year through partnerships or facility establishment.”
Adding that compliance enables renewal for an additional five years under strict regulatory monitoring.
Prof. Adeyeye поted that the initiative goes beyond industry growth, serving as a catalyst for economic development, improved access to quality medicines, and sustainable manufacturing capacity.
Earlier, Ambassador Suharto commended Prof. Adeyeye’s leadership, describing her as pragmatic and committed to advancing Nigeria’s healthcare regulatory framework.
He noted that Nigeria’s large population and expanding market offer significant opportunities for Indonesian pharmaceutical companies.
He also expressed Indonesia’s readiness to formalize collaboration with NAFDAC through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening trade, technical cooperation, and capacity building between both countries.
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