The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, has said that the agency’s ‘5 Plus 5’ policy and Ceiling List initiative have improved production of medicines and medical devices in the country.
The industry’s expert, who made this remark at the just concluded Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) ‘Invest in Nigeria Conference and Expo 4.0’ in Lagos, disclosed that the policy and the initiative had led to an increase in the number of pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the country from 174 to 190.
The agency’s Resident Media Consultant, Sayo Akintola, in a statement quoted the Director-General of encouraging foreign investors from over 43 countries at the event to take advantage of the transformation of the food and drug regulatory framework by investing in the country.
The NAFDAC boss explained that the 5+5 Policy was designed in 2019 by the NAFDAC’s management to phase out the importation of some medicines selected through scientific survey and critical analysis.
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According to her, the selected products, which are those for which local manufacturers have the capacity to produce, are prohibited from entering Nigeria and can only be manufactured locally, adding that stakeholders are required to set up facility locally or go into contract manufacturing from existing suitably qualified local manufacturers
In addition, she explained that the Ceiling List, which was an additional regulatory directive to facilitate local manufacturing, had increased the number of certain products that were restricted from being imported into Nigeria to 36 from nine in 2020.
Adeyeye further disclosed that the policies had facilitated a notable increase in facility layouts submissions for both Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Companies.
She maintained that the Executive Order of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that provided zero tariffs, excise duties, and Value-Added Tax (VAT) on imported machinery, equipment, and raw materials for local healthcare manufacturing has added a boost to the pharmaceutical industry.
The NAFDAC boss confirmed that as of June 2026, 176 pharmaceutical companies participated in the layout reviews (Existing and new companies) and approval by the Agency. (Existing companies – 70 and new companies – 106)
She maintained that this trend indicated a shift from importation to local production, reflecting growing industry confidence and investment.
Specifically, Adeyeye disclosed that importation of drug products in these two categories decreased by 70%, adding that as a result of these initiatives, the ratio of imports: locally manufactured pharmaceutical products has shifted – from 70:30 (2019) to 50:50 (2025).
She said the policy initiatives also led to an expansion of contract manufacturing partnerships, stressing that more companies are actively seeking partnerships with GMP-compliant local manufacturers.
Adeyeye reported that the number of companies doing contract manufacturing had also risen from 10 in 2019 to 87 in 2026, adding that this approach reduces reliance on international supply chains and supports the development of domestic production capacity.
She clarified that “the rise in contract manufacturing reflects a strategic move toward sustainable and scalable local operations”, adding that existing facilities are undergoing retrofitting and upgrades to meet international current Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
To qualify as a contract manufacturer, the Director-General said that companies must meet stringent requirements and have idle capacity to manufacture for contract givers, promising that NAFDAC will continue to provide regulatory support to strengthen the local manufacturing sector- through handholding and Corrective Action and Preventive Action (CAPA) clinics.
Adeyeye further explained that 37 existing manufacturers are under construction upgrading, while 28 of the existing manufacturers have completed construction and are operational.
She said “there has been a marked increase in foreign investment, particularly in the medical devices sector,’ adding that international investors are entering joint ventures with Nigerian firms to establish local manufacturing facilities, further boosting industrial growth.
Adeyeye said that there had also been an increase in technology transfer of formulations for which there is local capacity.
Noting that the number of new pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers is steadily increasing with 16 new pharmaceutical manufacturers and six new medical devices & In-vitro diagnostics (IVDs) manufacturers, the industry expert pointed out that the emerging facilities are aligning with regulatory standards, including the installation of HVAC systems and other critical infrastructure.
The Director-General gave a breakdown of the ‘overall impact of the 5+5/ ceiling list on local manufacturing as including 28 newly developed and retrofitted companies and 16 new facilities, making a total of 44, and resulting in 25% increase in local manufacturing.
As part of stimulating local manufacturing of the items, she hinted that NAFDAC was implementing another strategy in the food and cosmetics sectors named the Global Listing Re-evaluation with the aim of critically identify products that can be manufactured locally and encourage local manufacturing of such products.
She assured that the agency was committed to promoting local manufacturing in Nigeria to strengthen national food and drug security through market-friendly, and innovation-driven regulatory directives.
Adeyeye noted that implementation of local manufacturing policies had attracted huge investments into the economy and implored stakeholders to continue to collaborate with NAFDAC in the implementation of policies and regulatory directives on local manufacturing.
She said: “The increase in local manufacturing is in tandem with the Executive Order of the Federal Government. We should embrace it.”
Photo Caption
Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye (3rd left); President of LCCI, Engr Leye Kupoluyi (3rd right); with a team of investors from Cameroon at the closing ceremony of the LCCI’s Invest in Nigeria Conference and Expo 4.0 programme held in Lagos
