Former Minister of Aviation and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership, Osita Chidoka, has urged Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturers to drop what he described as an “alibi culture” of excuses and adopt global standards of quality, innovation, and accountability to remain competitive.
Chidoka made the call at the 29th Annual National Conference and Training of the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria held in Ilorin, where industry leaders, regulators, and policymakers gathered to discuss the future of pharmaceutical manufacturing in the country.
He warned that Nigeria is at a critical turning point and must urgently build systems that can guarantee both health security and industrial growth across successive governments.
According to him, the rising cost of basic healthcare products in Nigeria highlights deeper structural problems in the economy and the pharmaceutical sector.
He cited examples of common products such as creatine, magnesium glycinate, Vicks Sinex, and pain relief ointments, noting that their combined cost in Nigeria is significantly higher than in countries like the United States and South Africa.
Chidoka argued that the real issue is not just pricing but the collapse of purchasing power and the heavy reliance of Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry on imported active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which he said account for about 70–80 percent of inputs.
He stressed that the sector must undergo both a mental and operational shift, urging manufacturers to adopt what he called an “agency culture,” where they take full responsibility for outcomes regardless of external challenges.
He also warned that future success in global markets will depend on adaptability, innovation, and readiness to compete within frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“The future will not reward those who merely work harder in the same direction; it will reward those who are willing to work differently with a long-term vision,” he said.
Chidoka further argued that regulatory compliance should be seen as a competitive advantage rather than a burden, urging manufacturers to aim beyond minimum local standards set by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and instead align with global benchmarks such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
“The regulator’s weakness is not your permission to be weak,” he stated, adding that Nigerian manufacturers should be building for global markets, not just local approval.
Supporting the call for reform, National Chairman of NAIP, Bankole Ezebuilo, emphasized that excellence in the pharmaceutical industry must become an internal culture rather than a regulatory requirement.
He urged companies to adopt modern performance systems such as KPIs, benchmarking, and continuous improvement models to drive long-term growth.
The conference also featured international pharmaceutical expert Henrietta N. Ukwu, alongside senior figures from the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria, and government officials from Kwara State.
Chidoka concluded by advocating a new African-driven operational philosophy he called “Mekaria,” supported by a Measure, Monitor, and Improve framework, designed to embed accountability and continuous improvement across the industry.
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