Amid palpable frustration, Nigeria’s Community Pharmacists demand urgent government action to restore regulatory order and stop the avalanche of stifling taxes choking the pharmaceutical industry, warning of catastrophic drug shortages and an impending collapse of public access to essential medicines.
Pharm. Ezeh Amrose Igwekamma, National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), made the call at the opening of the 44th Annual International Scientific Conference at the International Conference Centre in Awka, Anambra State.
Igwekamma painted a vivid portrait of a sector grappling with muddled governance, overlapping mandates, and suffocating financial obligations — all of which threaten public access to safe and affordable medicines, reports Daily Independent.
The Coordinated Wholesale Centre Vision And NDDG 2015
The chairman revisited the origins of the National Drug Distribution Guidelines (NDDG- 2015), established in response to Nigeria’s chaotic drug distribution landscape.
The guidelines, pioneered by the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and subsequently endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN), and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), were aimed at sanitising drug movement and distribution.
Key to this plan was the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) model—a novel concept birthed at the PSN National Secretariat and adopted by its National Council. Designed as a comprehensive solution, CWCs were meant to consolidate drug distribution hubs in strategic locations including Lagos, Anambra, Abia, and Kano. Later expansions under the Isaac Adewole-led FMOH included Enugu, Oyo, and Borno states.
Yet, despite regulatory consensus and widespread stakeholder support, implementation remains dismal. Only Kano State has achieved full compliance, relocating operators from the Sabon-Geri open drug market to a designated CWC in the Economic City. The ACPN commended the Kano State Government, PCN, and NAFDAC for this rare success story, while lamenting the stagnation in other regions.
The statement reads, “In 2015, at the height of a seeming national crisis on the state of drug distribution in Nigeria, stakeholders in the pharmacy sector rallied under the coordination of the PSN, and this gave birth to the National Distribution Guideline (NDDG-2015), which was subsequently approved by the FMOH, as the PCN/NAFDAC endorsed the initiative of the PSN-led Pharma stakeholders.
“The drift to CWC philosophy was synthesised at the PSN National Secretariat and was subsequently adopted by the PSN National Council. Since 2015, the FMOH has dawdled in the quest to actualise the CWC option, which was stated to take off initially in Lagos, Anambra, Abia & Kano states.
“Subsequently, the Isaac Adewole-led FMOH in 2019 further approved that open markets in Enugu, Oyo & Borno States should embrace the CWC options. Of the seven states earmarked for the CWC profile, Kano state is the only state where a 100 percent success rate has been achieved till date,” the ACPN helmsman added.
Soludo’s Pro-Pharma Footprint In Anambra
In stark contrast, Anambra State has emerged as a model of progressive pharmaceutical governance, largely under the “Soludo Effect”—a term Igwekamma coined to capture the transformative healthcare reforms initiated by Governor Charles Soludo. Over the last three years, the administration has distinguished itself as the most pharmacy-friendly in Nigeria, making strategic appointments of qualified pharmacists to key roles.
These appointments include Pharm. Paul Onyeka, Commissioner for Housing; Pharm. Dr. Godwin Nnadozie, Special Adviser on Medicals & Pharmaceuticals; Pharm. Dr. Harrison Abone, Senior Special Assistant on Medicals and Pharmaceuticals; Pharm. (Dr) Obiageli Uchebo, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health; and Pharm. Chisom Uchenu, Executive Secretary of the Anambra State Primary Health Development Agency.
Igwekamma praised the governor’s all-inclusive approach to healthcare, noting that Anambra’s Primary Health Development Agency now ranks first in both the South East geo-political zone and nationally among Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.
He attributed this success to Soludo’s commitment to broad-spectrum governance in health, which, when applied faithfully, yields quantifiable benefits for health consumers.
Oba Coordinated Wholesale Centre
Returning to the subject of CWCs, Igwekamma drew attention to the Oba Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Anambra—a centre he described as the most promising in Nigeria. The Anambra State government, he said, has shown unwavering commitment, particularly through the relentless efforts of the governor’s advisers on medicals and pharmaceuticals.
As the conference returned to Awka after 17 years, ACPN delegates hailed Governor Soludo’s dedication to the imminent launch of the Oba CWC.
The state recently facilitated the allocation of a substantial parcel of land for the Association of Industrial Pharmacists of Nigeria (NAIP), enabling them to build infrastructure for research, laboratory testing, cold storage, and other pharmaceutical activities.
With the NAIP poised to rise to the occasion, Igwekamma expressed confidence that the Oba CWC would soon become a benchmark for other states.
He also extended heartfelt gratitude to Governor Soludo and his team for supporting the ACPN in organising a successful conference, assuring continued collaboration in the best interest of public health.
NAFDAC’s Directive Sparks Controversy
However, the address took a sharper turn as Igwekamma condemned a recent directive issued by NAFDAC, which mandates operators at the sealed Idumota market in Lagos, Ariaria market in Abia, and Headbridge market in Onitsha to register on a national database portal.
Describing the directive as unlawful and disruptive, Igwekamma accused NAFDAC of overstepping its legal mandate and sowing confusion in the already-fragile regulatory landscape.
According to the ACPN boss, the Pharmacy Council of Nigeria (PCN) has statutory authority to inspect and register pharmaceutical premises across retail, wholesale, importation, manufacturing, and other specialised categories.
He referenced more than 15 Federal High Court judgements affirming PCN’s exclusive powers over premises regulation, including those in private and public hospitals.
While acknowledging NAFDAC’s rightful role in overseeing drug distribution, sales, and safety under Section 5 of its enabling Act, Igwekamma firmly stated that NAFDAC has no authority to register premises — an unlawful ambition the agency must abandon immediately.
Regulatory Turf Wars And Revenue-Driven Overreach
Igwekamma condemned NAFDAC’s apparent obsession with revenue generation, accusing successive Directors-General of seeking to annex PCN’s functions for fiscal gains. He denounced current leadership as “unrepentant” in pursuing policies aimed at pleasing the World Health Organisation at the expense of Nigerian citizens.
Among these controversial policies is the compulsory bioequivalence and bioavailability (BA/BA) study for generic drugs, which, according to ACPN estimates, could double drug prices. Such moves, Igwekamma argued, undermine the Federal Government’s efforts — particularly under President Tinubu — to reduce drug costs and promote access.
He called on the government to intervene decisively and rethink these “self-serving policies” that risk turning public health into a luxury for the privileged.
Nigeria’s Pharma Potential As $10 Billion Opportunity
Currently valued at approximately $2 billion, Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry has the potential to quintuple its worth within five years, given the right regulatory climate. New investments are already flowing in, including active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) manufacturing plants, cephalosporin and Beta-lactam facilities, and local antiretroviral drug production.
But this growth depends heavily on regulatory coherence. Igwekamma stressed that the entire pharmaceutical value chain— from retail to apex operations — must be responsibly sanitised to unlock prosperity. That means eliminating arbitrary taxes, tariffs, and levies that stifle growth and discourage innovation.
He called on the government to adopt best practices from countries like China, India, and the USA, where supportive policy frameworks have propelled drug manufacturing into global relevance.
Pledge For Responsible Partnership
Igwekamma reaffirmed the ACPN’s commitment to collaboration with government at all levels — provided the agenda genuinely serves Nigerian health consumers. He pledged that ACPN would continue to upskill its membership, strengthen the pharma workforce, and raise service standards across the board.
In his words, “The time has come to restore sanity to the pharmaceutical sector—to end the regulatory tug-of-war, reduce economic burdens, and ensure Nigerians have access to safe, affordable medicines. Anything less would be a betrayal of public trust.”
