Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mariam Ileyemi
Published on 2024-03-24 18:40:35
The Minister of State for Health, Tunji Alausa, has urged for a total ban on the importation of medical syringes into the country to promote local production. His visit to the Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory in Ogun State, along with other government officials and stakeholders, emphasized the government’s commitment to boosting the local manufacturing industry.
Alausa highlighted the importance of restructuring syringe and needle production in Nigeria to ensure the availability of high-quality products manufactured locally, leading to job creation for Nigerians. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had previously advised customs agents against importing syringes to support locally-made products.
Various dignitaries, including Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment Doris Uzoka-Anite, Minister of State for Youth Ayodele Olawande, NAFDAC Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, and NIPC CEO Aisha Rimi, visited Afrimedical to show their support for the local manufacturing sector.
Alausa called upon NAFDAC to prevent excessive importation of syringes to safeguard the local industry from unfair competition. He emphasized the need to protect local manufacturers through strategies like the backwards integration model to enhance local capacity. Adeyeye echoed this sentiment, underscoring the necessity for a coordinated approach by government agencies to address the influx of substandard medical devices into the country.
In addition, the NPHCDA was directed to patronize local syringe manufacturers to create more job opportunities for Nigerians. Adeyeye disclosed that NAFDAC had halted syringe imports to promote locally-made products and reduce dependency on international partners. She also acknowledged challenges posed by compromised officials at ports facilitating the entry of medical devices and emphasized the implementation of high import tariffs as a deterrent.
While locally manufactured syringes may initially be more expensive, Adeyeye assured that increased production volume would lead to cost reduction. She advocated for reduced import tariffs on critical raw materials and production equipment to support local manufacturers.
Mofid Karameh, chairman of Mikano International, parent company of Afrimedical, expressed his company’s commitment to transforming Nigeria into a leading medical hub in Africa. Afrimedical’s Managing Director Akin Oyediran highlighted the company’s focus on producing high-quality syringes for Nigeria and neighboring countries using innovative sterilization technology.
Oyediran mentioned Afrimedical’s use of medical-grade materials, reducing plastic usage by 30% in production. He lauded government support for the initiative to ban syringe imports, predicting a decline in substandard products in the Nigerian market and a conducive environment for local pharmaceutical manufacturers to thrive.
Read the original article on Premium Times
