Nigeria is witnessing increased foreign investment in its pharmaceutical sector following the implementation of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)’s “5+5 Policy,”
A strategic initiative designed to promote local production of medicines.
The Director-General of the agency stated this when the Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, His Excellency, Ambassador Bambang Suharto, visited her in her office.
The policy, introduced in 2018, is also known as the Five Plus Five-Year Validity Policy. It is an import-to-local production migration strategy. Under the framework, product registration licences are valid for five years. By the fourth year, companies are required to submit detailed plans—either through partnerships with Nigerian pharmaceutical firms or by establishing local manufacturing facilities to transition to domestic production.
Upon meeting these requirements, licences may be renewed for an additional five years, during which NAFDAC closely monitors compliance with the migration plan.
Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, says the policy has begun to yield significant results, with a growing number of foreign investors establishing manufacturing plants in Nigeria or entering into partnerships with indigenous pharmaceutical companies to produce medicines locally.
She added that Nigeria’s attainment of the World Health Organization (WHO) Maturity Level 3, as well as its recertification in 2025 for the regulation of medicines and vaccines, has positioned the country as an attractive destination for pharmaceutical investment.
Reaffirming the agency’s commitment to the 5+5 Policy, Prof. Adeyeye assured the Ambassador of NAFDAC’s readiness to support prospective investors seeking to establish manufacturing facilities in Nigeria. She explained that the policy is aimed at boosting local production, enhancing drug security, and reducing dependence on imported pharmaceuticals.
The Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Bambang Suharto, commended the leadership of Prof. Adeyeye, describing her as pragmatic and committed to advancing Nigeria’s healthcare and regulatory systems. He noted that Nigeria’s large population and growing market make it an attractive destination for Indonesian pharmaceutical companies.
He expressed his country’s interest in formalising collaboration with NAFDAC through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance trade, technical exchange, and capacity building between both nations.
