Tunji Alausa, the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, has called for a total ban on the importation of medical syringe into Nigeria so as to encourage local production and help to grow the nation's economy.
Alausa made this known during an official visit to the multi-billion naira ultra-modern Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory located within Karameh Industrial City, Arepo, Ogun State,
He said the federal government is determined to support the local manufacturing sector to enhance its contribution to the Gross Domestic Product GDP.
He believes the restructuring of syringe and needle production in Nigeria will guarantee the availability of high-quality products manufactured by Nigerians in the market to generate lucrative employment opportunities for Nigerians.
The minister, however, implored NAFDAC to ensure that unbridled importation of Syringe does not hamper the development of the local industry through unhealthy competition.
"Don't give them any more authorisation to import. We need to protect the local industry through the backward integration model aimed at enhancing the local capacity," he said.
Mojisola Adeyeye, the director general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), disclosed that the Agency had ended granting import authorisation to importers including international partners.
The National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) has also been directed to patronise the local manufacturers of syringes to provide employment opportunities to Nigerians through the expansion of operations of the Nigeria manufacturing companies.
She noted that the National Primary Health Agency was given the last import order in December 2023 with the instruction that they should begin to source from the local manufacturers thereafter.
She also explained that NAFDAC has halted syringe imports to promote locally-made syringes and this suspension applies even to syringes previously imported by NAFDAC's international partners.
"For the local manufacturers, we are doing hand-holding with our Syringe companies. Hand-holding, meaning we are working with them by correcting whatever we found wrong or inappropriate in their operations, adding that this initiative has started yielding positive dividends as the World Health Organisation WHO recently requested for names of the three syringe manufacturing companies in Nigeria to do business with," she said.
She disclosed that the names were supplied to WHO and they have been contacted for guidance toward prequalification and eventual access of the products for use.
Adeyeye however, advocated for a holistic approach to combatting the incidence of importation of Substandard Falsified medical devices into the country as some medical devices still come into the country with the aid of compromised officials at the ports.
According to her, the government had already put high tariffs on the importation of syringes to discourage importation. She, nevertheless, expressed regret that the system in the ports negates that policy.
"That is the problem. It's going to be a holistic government approach to tackle the problem. It's not something that only NAFDAC, SON, or Customs can do. It must be all-embracing," she said.
The NAFDAC boss however noted that the locally manufactured syringes may be a little costlier, but is expected decline once the local industry starts to operate with large volume.
She also urged the government to reduce the import tariff on critical raw materials and equipment used for local production, adding that they should be given zero tariffs for a limited time moratorium.
Adeyeye said that NAFDAC has the power to create a ceiling on importation, adding that the three companies in Nigeria can produce syringes that will satisfy the local demand and still export.
The Minister further requested the NAFDAC DG to engage all the relevant agencies to achieve the desired government policy thrust as he reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu's commitment to remove barriers impeding industrialization and manufacturing in Nigeria.
The chairman of Mikano International, the parent company of Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited, Mr. Mofid Karameh told the visiting top government officials and UN Deputy Secretary General that his company is poised to revolutionize the landscape with its aim to restore Nigeria as the premier hub in Africa. He said the company boasts of an internationally accredited factory with an annual production capacity of 1.8 billion syringes, employing cutting-edge E-beam sterilization technology.
Founded in 2019, he said Afrimedical has emerged as a prominent provider of medical solutions, delivering produc
