Photos: FG considers banning importation of needles, syringes
In a bid to strengthen the economy and foster local production, the Minister of State for Health, Dr Tunji Alausa has advocated for a complete halt on the importation of medical syringes into Nigeria.
This call was echoed by the Director General of National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye during a visit to the Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory in Ogun State.
The visit aimed to address the challenge of substandard medical device imports and promote indigenous manufacturing.
Highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting local industries, Dr. Alausa emphasised the importance of restructuring syringe production in Nigeria to ensure the availability of high-quality products and create employment opportunities.
Prof. Adeyeye affirmed the Agency’s decision to cease granting import authorisations for syringes, redirecting focus towards local manufacturers, and collaborating with them to enhance production standards.
While acknowledging the initial cost implications of locally manufactured syringes, Prof. Adeyeye stressed that increased production volumes would drive down prices over time.
Speaking on issue,Dr Alausa recalled that he and the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Investment, Dr Doris Anite met with representatives of the Needles and Syringes manufacturing group in January to address their challenges.
According to him, “the goal was to collaborate on effective solutions and actionable steps to propel the sector forward in Nigeria.
“While we work on executive level polices that will help uplift the sector, one immediate solution we identified during our discussions was to encourage all Federal Tertiary hospitals to purchase from local manufacturers within the country.
“In line with this initiative, Dr Doris Anite and I accompanied by Hon Minister of State for Youth Development, DG, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye DG and DG, Nigeria Investment Promotion Council, Ms Aisha Rimi, visited Mikano’s Industrial campus and toured Afrimedical’s manufacturing plant in Ogun State.
“Afrimedical is among the local manufacturers, such as HMA Medical, capable of meeting Nigeria’s demand for 1.2 billion syringes.
“During our tour, we gained insights into their production capacity and processes, further underscoring the importance of supporting indigenous manufacturing enterprises.
“Elevating local industrialization and fortifying the growth and resilience of such enterprises remain paramount for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.
“Our ongoing engagements with the Needles and Syringes manufacturing sector reflects our commitment to advancing Nigeria’s industrial landscape,” Dr Alausa said.
