The Federal Government of Nigeria has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria to bolster pharmaceutical manufacturing and cut reliance on imports. The agreement, inked in Abuja, aims to mobilize private sector investment and drive innovation in the health sector. Officials highlighted goals for self-sufficiency by 2030 amid ongoing discussions on policy reforms.
On Wednesday, October 23, 2025, the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Abuja during a roundtable focused on local medicine production. The event, themed “Strengthening Local Pharmaceutical Manufacturing for Sustainable Health Security in Africa,” gathered stakeholders including representatives from the World Bank, African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), and the West Africa Private Healthcare Federation (FOASPS).
The partnership seeks to mobilize private sector investment, encourage local production, and promote innovation across the pharmaceutical value chain. PVAC National Coordinator Dr. Abdu Mukhtar emphasized the initiative's alignment with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for health security. “Our goal is clear: to ensure that by 2030, Nigeria produces at least 70 per cent of its essential healthcare products locally,” Mukhtar stated. “We have moved beyond planning to execution, and this collaboration with HFN will accelerate that shift by mobilising the private sector’s innovation, investment, and expertise.”
He added that the effort would address drug shortages, generate jobs, and foster industrial growth in healthcare. HFN President Mrs. Njide Ndili welcomed the MoU as a bridge for government-private sector collaboration. “HFN has consistently advocated for greater private sector engagement in health system development,” she said. “This MoU with PVAC provides a structured platform to channel expertise, investments, and innovation toward building a stronger, more self-reliant healthcare system.”
Discussions at the roundtable centered on policy reforms, financing for small and medium pharmaceutical enterprises, and harmonizing regulatory standards to boost efficiency. Mukhtar noted, “This partnership marks a crucial step in unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s healthcare industry. By working with HFN, we are ensuring that the private sector plays an active and coordinated role in building a resilient healthcare ecosystem.”
The three-year MoU covers local manufacturing, diagnostics, workforce development, and supply chain management. PVAC, established in 2023, drives government efforts to produce pharmaceuticals and medical devices domestically, while HFN promotes private sector innovation in healthcare.