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Lagos mulls drugs manufacturing free trade zones

Lagos State government said it has concluded plans to establish a Medical Free Trade Zone to bolster the local production of pharmaceutical products, as well as drive the creation of industrial and innovation hubs for the health and related sectors.

Commissioner of Health, Prof Akin Abayomi who disclosed this at a three- Day Pharma West Africa Exhibition that opened at the nation's commercial capital said, the creation of the Medical Free Trade Zone had become compelling. He said the Lagos State government is deepening partnership with regulators, manufacturers and other players in the pharmaceutical industry to create an enabling environment for local producers and start - ups.

Abayomi said embarking on the ambitious project, is one of the ways the State Government alongside other players could reverse the adverse ratio of drug importation into the country.

He said the Lagos State government is committed to ensuring that the right steps are taken to achieve production of drugs to meet indigenous needs as the supra national entity to meet the health care needs of the 25 million residents of the state.

Abayomi spoke of plans to engage regulators, including the National Agency for Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Ports Authority to drive the project.

He said: "Government's whole responsibility is to create an enabling environment to turn the state and the medical economy and the pharmaceutical economy. We know the data. Therefore Lagos is very committed to create an environment for local producers and start-ups have the enabling environment where they can ensure that we try to reverse that ratio of manufacture to import. We are importing 80 -90 per cent and manufacturing 5 -10 per cent. We want to try to reverse that situation such that we meet our indigenous needs.

"And  we are meeting up with the regulatory framework of NAFDAC and the WHO to make sure that we improve manufacturing practices such that we can boast of manufacturing and when we finish the manufacturing, we can subject them to necessary regulatory standards.

"We are going to ensure that we are engaging the port industry and we are about to make available medical trade free zones, we are to make available medical, industrial and innovation hubs where our citizens can come to the government and talk about how this enabling environment can help you.

"Therefore Lagos is very committed to create an environment for local producers and start-ups have the enabling environment where they can ensure that we try to reverse that ratio of manufacture to import. We are importing 80 -90 per cent and manufacturing 5 -10 per cent. We want to try to reverse that situation such that we meet our indigenous needs.

"We  are going to ensure that we are engaging the port industry and we are about to make available medical trade free zones, we are to make available medical, industrial and innovation hubs where our citizens can come to government and talk about how this enabling environment can help you."

Abayomi also disclosed that the state government is about to establish a medical regulatory agency.

He said: "We have already established the MRA.  People wonder why Lagos State is so big on this. It's because of the complexity of the pharmaceutical industry in Lagos. We need to be politically right, we need to be financially right and we need to be economically right."

Also speaking on the occasion, NAFDAC DG, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye said Nigeria is ripe for the local production of some imported drugs, urging players in the pharmaceutical sector to adopt international standards.

She said the over 180 pharmaceutical companies could scale up their act and become leading hubs in the production of drugs like India, China , United States and other countries across the globe.

Adeyeye said: " We must adopt international standards. We are not doing this only for our country. We want to do it for the continent. We want to trade with the continent and we want to trade with the world and if you want to trade with the world, then you must be compliant with international standard. Leveraging new frontiers based on quality whether it is medicines, whether it is medical devices, whether it is vaccines it is based on quality.

"Companies that are growing up with invidious diagnosis, syringes, that will want to sell across the world, we cannot sell to the world until the quality that we serve is up to world standard."

Chairman of Pharma West Africa Conference &Exhibition Planning Committee, Pharm Ahmed Yakasai said the programme provides yet another window for players in the pharmaceutical space to explore the latest advancements, innovations and networking within the industry.

He said: "Leveraging new frontiers in the pharmaceutical industry to drive universal health coverage underscores the critical role that innovation plays in driving progress and improving health outcomes. Through insightful discussions, engaging sessions, we aim to foster dialogue and catalyze positive change within the landscape.

"Together we can address challenges, leverage emerging technologies and harness the power of collaboration to enhance access to quality health care for all."

Managing Director of B2B Events, Mr Jamie Hill described Nigeria as the epicentre of pharmaceutical business, saying holding the exhibition in a market with over 30 million customers is a huge opportunity to develop the value chain.

He said the exhibition provides another opportunity to bring international manufacturers together to explore partnerships for local contract manufacturing of drugs.

He said: "The large number of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria is enough for drive partnership and collaboration to boost export and regain the value of the naira."