Sick and stranded: Presidential order fails to curb soaring drug prices
By Daylight
August 25, 2025
Tinubu
Despite President Bola Tinubu’s executive order in June 2024 aimed at reducing drug costs by abolishing tariffs, excise duties, and Value Added Tax on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials, Nigeria continues to battle soaring medication prices.
The intended policy, designed to ease the financial burden on patients, remains largely unenforced, leading to no relief for consumers or manufacturers.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, on June 28, 2024, announced on X that President Bola Tinubu signed an Executive Order aiming to increase local production of healthcare products
Pate noted that the order introduces zero tariffs, excise duties and VAT on specified machinery, equipment and raw materials, aiming to reduce production costs and enhance our local manufacturers’ competitiveness.
“Specified items include Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients, excipients, other essential raw materials required for manufacturing of crucial health products like drugs, syringes and needles, Long-lasting Insecticidal Nets and Rapid Diagnostic Kits, among others.
“The Order also provides for establishing market shaping mechanisms such as framework contracts and volume guarantees, to encourage local manufacturers.
“The Order mandates collaboration between the Ministers of Health, Finance and Industry, Trade and Investment to develop a Harmonised Implementation Framework, expediting regulatory approvals and reducing bottlenecks,” Pate wrote.
The minister noted that agencies, including the Nigeria Customs Service, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, Standards Organisation of Nigeria, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, would ensure swift implementation, with special waivers and exemptions effective for two years.
A release issued by the Nigeria Customs Service on March 26, 2025, stated that the agency had commenced the implementation of the executive order.
The release, signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Service, Abdullahi Maiwada, noted,” Drawing from Presidential directives aimed at enhancing local manufacturing of healthcare products, reducing the costs of medical equipment and consumables, as well as stimulating local investments, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is pleased to announce that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, through the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Olawale Edun, has approved the comprehensive guidelines to actualise these objectives.
“Consequently, critical raw materials essential for the production of pharmaceutical products will be exempted from import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) for a period of two years. This exemption covers Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, and other vital raw materials required for manufacturing essential medicines, Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), Rapid Diagnostic Kits, reagents, and packaging materials.
“To ensure that these fiscal incentives are fully utilised, eligibility is limited to manufacturers of pharmaceutical products recognised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, provided they possess a valid Tax Identification Number (TIN). This measure ensures that the benefits directly support legitimate manufacturers committed to strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare infrastructure.”
Higher prices
However, new data show that drug prices in Nigeria have surged alarmingly despite government promises of relief. For most Nigerians, relief remains painfully out of reach. Instead of dropping, many essential medicines have climbed between 30 per cent and 100 per cent in just 14 months, piling more pressure on patients already struggling with the rising cost of living.
Market surveys conducted by The PUNCH comparing drug prices between June 2024, when the executive order was signed, and August 2025, revealed that drug prices have continued to soar, with several life-saving medications recording steep hikes with only a few exceptions.
The impact is particularly stark for chronic disease patients. Insulin, for instance, rose by 29 per cent from N14,000 in June 2024 to N18,000 in August 2025, while a glucometer spiked 41 per cent from N20,500 to N29,000.
For hypertension patients, prescriptions are no less costly. Metformin increased by 30 per cent, moving from N500 to N650, while amlodipine climbed 33 per cent, rising from N1,800 to N2,400. Exforge, another hypertension drug, soared 83 per cent from N32,800 to N60,000.
The situation is dire for malaria treatment as drug prices have nearly doubled. Coartem, a widely used antimalarial, jumped 124 per cent from N3,800 to N8,500, while Artesunate injection climbed 56 per cent from N1,600 to N2,500. The price of the Lokmal tablet rose from N1,200 last year to N2,450 now, which is a 104.2 per cent increase.
Only a handful of medicines became cheaper. Augmentin dropped by 24 per cent, from N18,500 in June 2024 to N14,000 in August 2025. The Ventolin inhaler also fell by 12 per cent, from N8,500 to N7,500.
Still, these are rare cases in a market dominated by rising drug prices. The ineffectiveness of fully operationalising the policy has left Nigerians with little respite from crippling medication costs.
Blame on policy
Stakeholders attribute the persistent drug price hikes to the non-implementation or slow roll-out of the executive order, coupled with Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imports, high foreign exchange rates, rising energy costs, and other structural inefficiencies in the healthcare supply chain.
Speaking with our correspondent, the National President of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ambrose Ezeh, said the executive order has not been implemented.
“Have we implemented (the executive order)? If the order is not implemented, then the status quo remains. Even if they are implemented or not, most of the drugs, 75 per cent of the drugs that we use in this country, are imported.
“The foreign exchange is at a high rate. If the forex is reduced, they (drugs) would reduce. If they are importing the raw material, they are importing everything; energy is high, and other things are high. There is no way it will not affect the medicines that are being sold in the country, whether you are producing locally you are importing from outside. The executive order has not been implemented,” Ezeh stated.
Meanwhile, the ACPN chairman of the Federal Capital Territory, Olatunji Aloba, explained that while some level of implementation was already being felt in the pharmaceutical sector, the full effect was yet to be realised.
He noted that drug importation under the new policy was already showing signs of change, with prices of some medications beginning to decrease. However, he stressed that the impact was uneven, depending on the timing of importation and the type of drugs involved.
“There are some drugs that are coming down in prices. Some are actually crashing. But those that were already in circulation before the policy was declared still maintain their old prices. It is new transactions and new importations that are beginning to reflect the order,” he said.
According to him, the drugs currently experiencing price reductions are mostly prescription-only medicines and some supplements.
He added that availability played a role in these changes, adding that when certain drugs go out of stock and later return to the market, they often reflect the new pricing system.
“The pricing of drugs is mainly determined by how much we get them. If we get the drugs at reduced rates, the costs from the shelves would be reduced, but if we get them at high rates, the prices would reflect that we sell as well.
“Also, this is determined by forex and cost factors. If I get raw materials at N15,000 and end up producing at the same N15,000, I will still want to maximise profit. Prices will only begin to crash gradually when subsequent supplies reflect better margins,” he said.
Aloba emphasised that the implementation of the executive order was ongoing but remained a gradual process.
He, however, expressed hope that with time, competition and continued policy enforcement would force prices down.
“You can’t always win it all. But when competition comes in, people will be forced to cut prices. It is a gradual process, but eventually, things will fall into place,” he concluded.
Another Community Pharmacist in Abuja, who spoke on condition of anonymity, explained that drug prices had risen mainly because local production had declined, forcing manufacturers to rely on imported medications, which are affected by the dollar rate.
She also noted that high demand, especially during the rainy season, for drugs like anti-malarial medications, pushes prices up, often leading to stock shortages.
“Most manufacturers and distributors depend on imported medications. Most times, they claim that because of the dollar rate and all of that, it affects the prices of medication. Another factor influencing drug prices is the supply. Especially this rainy season, you have a lot of demand for anti-malarial because of mosquito infestation. The fact that a lot of people are looking for anti-malarial drugs influences the drug prices negatively,” she said.
Regarding the Federal Government’s executive order to reduce drug costs and boost local production, she believes it has largely been ineffective in practice.
“I still believe the executive order is just on paper. In reality, none of those things have been implemented. When they say there’s an executive order, in what way? How have they been able to issue that order to reduce drug costs or even boost local production? We have Nigerian companies, yet their drugs keep increasing in terms of price.
“To be honest, it’s just on paper. It hasn’t been fully reflected in today’s market,” she stated.
The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Bala Audu, said patients and doctors alike were still burdened by high drug prices because the executive order on medicines had not been fully implemented.
“To be honest, the immediate and long-term solution to the issue of high prices of drugs is for the government and the authorities to act and ensure that the executive order is fully implemented to ease the burden on Nigerians,” he said.
The President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, Dr. Tope Osundara, said the reasons why drug prices were still high despite the executive order were mainly because the country lacked enough pharmaceutical companies to produce essential medicines.
He added that existing capacity could not meet demand, while most patients paid directly for drugs without health insurance, making affordability difficult.
“We do not have enough pharmaceutical companies to produce some of the essential drugs; the ones that we have are insufficient to take care of the needs of the people. Aside from that, out-of-pocket payment is also part of the problem we are having. So if there is financial security in terms of health insurance, people will be able to afford, even if it is foreign or locally made drugs. So out-of-pocket payment is something the government should look into so that they will mitigate against this, and we have patients who will be able to afford whatever the doctor prescribes.
“The reason the impact of the executive order signed by President Tinubu has not been felt by patients is that even for some of the drugs which prices are coming down, they are still not affordable for the people. People are still coping with how to survive and how to live daily, even without drugs.
“It’s becoming very difficult to eat a proper meal. So, how will someone who lives below $1 a day cope? We really need to do better to improve the economy, the livelihood of the people, and significantly bring down these prices of drugs so that people will be able to afford them,” Dr. Osundara said.
The NARD president recommended that the government improve healthcare financing and make health insurance more accessible.
He stressed that without stronger healthcare financing and better economic conditions, drug prices will remain out of reach for many Nigerians
“If the government will be truthful and kind enough, they should go back to the Abuja Declaration that states that 15 per cent of the annual budget should go to health, both at the Federal Government level, and the state level.
“The government should fund some of the drug-producing companies so that whatever they are producing will be affordable to the patients, especially for essential and over-the-counter drugs,” he added.
Medications beyond reach
While there is optimism that the comprehensive implementation of the executive order will eventually drive down costs, patients battling chronic illnesses remain frustrated, saying relief is out of reach.
The Chairman of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Abdulwahab Dauda, emphatically said diabetes drugs were not dropping in prices.
“Some people who used to give us free medications have even reduced the quantities of drugs they give. The economy is biting hard on diabetes patients; our drugs are costly. Many of us are struggling to afford our drugs.
“We are yet to see the effects of the executive order. Last year, we wrote to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare about the high price of insulin, but to date, the price of insulin has not come down. Insulin is sold for N20,000 now; you will only be lucky to see it at N18,000 in some places.
“When we wrote to the ministry, we complained that the price of insulin moved from N4,000 to N12,000. But right now, it’s between N18,000 and N20,000. Many of our members cannot afford it; they would have to consider feeding, accommodation, and other things. It’s really a tough time for many diabetes patients, not just in Lagos, but in Nigeria.”
A Lagos resident, Mrs. Idowu Abi, recalled how treating a simple case of malaria drained her pocket just two weeks ago.
“Last year, I spent less than N10,000 to treat malaria. But this time, the test alone cost me N3,000, while the injections and drugs went over N16,000. And I still had to feed well during treatment,” she said.
“It’s not easy. Medicines are expensive, food is costly, and the little I make as a petty trader is barely enough to survive,” she lamented.
Mr. Endurance Amogi, who visited Abuja in June, said he was shocked when a medication for catarrh that once cost N4,000 was sold for N24,000.
“I could afford it, but what about those who cannot? With the hike in medication prices, many people may be unable to get the treatment they need. At this rate, they should make health insurance compulsory for every Nigerian,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Frank Muonemeh, has warned that the recently introduced mandatory payment of four per cent Free-on-Board value on imports could wipe out the benefits of the Federal Government’s zero-tariff policy on pharmaceutical raw materials.
Muonemeh, who spoke with The PUNCH, said the recently introduced policy had already begun to erode the modest gains made in stabilising the prices of medicines over the past five months.
He demanded that food and pharmaceuticals should be exempted from the four per cent FOB.
While he noted that the zero-tariff policy stabilised the cost of drugs in the past five months, he warned that the consequences of the recently introduced four per cent FOB may be seen in an increase in the price of drugs next year.
He urged the government to exempt the pharmaceutical and food sectors from the FOB levy because of their critical role in public welfare.
Muonemeh said, “They should not use one hand to give and another to take back. The pharmaceutical and food sectors are basic life-support systems. Applying FOB on them is counterproductive and makes Nigerians pay more for essential goods.
“The four per cent FOB charge nullifies whatever the government claims to have given us through zero tariff. Before now, companies paid five per cent duty. Now, with this new charge, whatever gains we enjoyed in the last five months have been eroded.
“The policy gave manufacturers confidence and prevented medicine prices from overshooting. Ordinarily, with current inflation, energy costs and interest rates, prices should have escalated. But because of faith in the zero-tariff policy, companies stabilised prices. With the FOB charge, however, we may see sharp increases.”
He said the benefits of the zero-duty regime, which ran between March and August, were set to reflect fully on market prices due to the long procurement and planning cycles in the industry, but may be slowed down with what he described as a policy flip or somersault.
Muonemeh further argued that policy inconsistencies threaten the government’s vision of unlocking the healthcare value chain.
According to him, if maintained, the levy will force companies to factor the additional cost into their 2025 business plans, undermining growth, discouraging investment and pushing medicine prices beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.
“Policies cannot be done in isolation. The Minister of Finance is running one thing, and another ministry is running another. These flips or somersaults affect not just pharmaceuticals but the entire economy. There is an urgent need for policy harmonisation,” he said.
State residents lament
A nationwide investigation by The PUNCH revealed that soaring medication prices are taking a heavy toll on citizens.
Following the development, it was also learnt that poor Nigerians had resorted to local herbs and self-medication for treatment.
In Gombe, residents expressed frustration over the rising cost of essential medicines.
Mallam Ibrahim Adamu, a father of three from Tumfure, said he had not noticed any reduction in prices despite the directive.
“In fact, drugs have become more expensive. Common painkillers that we used to buy for N300 are now over N1,500, depending on the type. For antibiotics, the price is almost double,” he lamented.
Fatima Sambo, a petty trader at Pantami Market, said, “My husband is diabetic, and the cost of his insulin has gone up. Sometimes we are forced to buy half of the prescription because we cannot afford the full dose,” she said.
In Plateau State, a cross-section of the residents said the directive had little or no impact on the prices of drugs in the state.
Mohammed Abubakar, a resident of Bukuru community in Jos South Local Government Area, said, “The pronouncement by the government on drug price reduction is only on paper because we have not seen any positive change to that effect.
“Instead, what we see is rather an increment in their prices by retailers. Today, a genuine malaria drug goes for as much as N3,000. This is a common illness which could easily be treated with just N300 or N400 before.”
Mrs. Grace Jonathan, a resident of Gada Biu community in Jos, and Bello Saidu, who reside in the Rayfield axis, echoed Abubakar’s sentiments, describing the situation as “really unbearable for the average Nigerian.”
“Many lives have been lost because those in need could not afford it at the time they needed it,” Jonathan said.
Residents of Adamawa noted that malaria drugs had become the most expensive, driven by the rising cases of the illness in the state.
A resident of Shagari quarters, Mariam Abubakar, said she totally depended on traditional herbs for her treatment and that of her children.
“Last week, my youngest was having malaria fever, so I went to a pharmacy to buy malaria drugs. I was charged N13,800 for two packs of drugs. Where will I get that money? My salary is only N28,000.
“The governor must do something to save us, the poor, from the rising crisis of drugs in the state,” she said.
In Edo State, Mikiste Thomas said the cost of drugs, especially the ones he buys for his uncle for his prostate ailment, has become cheaper in Benin.
He said, “I have an uncle who uses Contiflo and Ciprofloxacin, and the prices have come down considerably. The drugs are used to control his prostate. I was involved in buying the drugs, and I found out recently that they are cheaper than they used to be.
“He gave me the former price, but I bought it cheaper in a reputable pharmacy in Benin City.
“For me, the government should encourage Pharmaceutical companies to go into large-scale production of prescription drugs for all ailments.”
Another Benin resident, Edosa Okunbo, said he has not noticed a drop in the prices of the drugs he uses
He said, “Antibiotics and painkillers are still very expensive in Benin. I am talking as a patient who is battling pneumonia and excessive pain. Drugs like Ampicillin, Ampiclox and Ciprotab have become very expensive. Also, prices of painkillers like Atrothec, Diclophenac are on the rise.
“The rise in prices of drugs may be due to sabotage by drug manufacturers and sellers. The government should set up a task force to check the activities of drug manufacturers and sellers.”
Yobe residents urged the Federal Government to ensure effective consumer protection and impose price ceilings on drugs at the retail level.
Musa Abubakar, a resident of Damaturu, expressed his frustration over the situation.
“The FG should ensure consumer protection is effective and put price ceilings on drugs down to the retail level,” he emphasised.
“Prices of drugs have remained the same, but the cost of living has increased,” he said. “Malaria, typhoid, and ulcer medications are just a few examples of the health conditions that have become unaffordable for many.”
Umar Geidam, a resident of Damaturu and a civil servant, highlighted the significant price increases of essential drugs, including malaria injections and ulcer medications.
“The government order on drug prices has not been effective due to a lack of enforcement,” he said.
In Jigawa, the rising drug costs have put a strain on people’s health and finances, limiting many from seeking timely medical care.
Musa Abdullahi, a trader from Dutse, said, “The free healthcare programme is helpful, but some medicines prescribed by doctors are not available in the government hospitals. We have to buy them at nearby shops where prices are very high.”
Fatima Ibrahim from Birnin Kudu added, “Malaria and typhoid medicines have become very expensive lately. Even though the state promotes free healthcare, we struggle to afford these essential drugs outside the hospital.
“The government should regulate private drug sellers strictly and ensure a consistent supply to public hospitals. That way, affordable medicine will reach the people.”
“We want government health centres to be stocked well, so we don’t have to pay high prices outside,” Musa Inusa, a resident of Dutse, said.
Residents also cited shortages and irregular supply of medicines in public hospitals, forcing them to rely on commercial chemists.
Residents across Nasarawa also decried the rising drug prices in the state.
A resident of Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, Tanko Muhammad, told our correspondent that getting a good Malaria drug has become a difficult task in recent times, as the recommended ones are now sold between N3,000 to N5,000 in the state.
He narrated how he spent almost all his earnings in July just to acquire drugs and foot the medical bills of his nephew, who was diagnosed with malaria and typhoid fever.
“On this issue of high cost of drugs, I think that the government has to intervene because the situation is becoming unbearable. If I, who is gainfully employed, could be affected by skyrocketing prices, you can imagine what the low-income earners would be facing at the moment. So, I appeal that the government should assist us on this matter.”
In Kano State, Maryam Bala, a mother of three in Dorayi, said there had been no visible change in drug costs.
“Medicines are still very expensive. Families like ours are struggling to afford proper treatment. Nothing has really changed,” she lamented.
Another resident, Aliyu Usman, a civil servant, explained that he had been forced to ration prescriptions due to the persistent high cost.
“My wife is diabetic, and sometimes I have to choose between paying school fees and buying her drugs. The situation is terrible,” he said.
Also, Sokoto residents said the executive order had brought little or no relief, as prices of common prescriptions continued to skyrocket, making access to healthcare increasingly difficult for ordinary citizens.
Abubakar Musa, a civil servant in Sokoto metropolis, said he had not noticed any reduction in drug prices since the directive was announced.
“Honestly, medicines have only become more expensive. Just last week, I bought antibiotics for my child at nearly double the price I paid last year. The presidential order has not changed anything at the pharmacies we buy from,” he lamented.
Similarly, a student of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Bashir Ibrahim, explained that the increase has discouraged many young people from seeking timely medical care.
“When we fall sick, we first try home remedies because drugs are just too expensive. Even basic pain relievers that used to be affordable are now costly. The government’s directive didn’t work because the market is controlled by middlemen and importers,” he stated. Punch
