Despite an executive order signed by President Bola Tinubu in June 2024 to reduce the cost of medications by removing tariffs, VAT, and excise duties on pharmaceutical inputs and machinery, Nigerians continue to face skyrocketing drug prices with minimal relief.

The executive order was intended to boost local production and ease the financial burden on patients. However, implementation delays and economic challenges have rendered its impact negligible.

On June 28, 2024, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, announced that the presidential order would remove import duties and VAT on key pharmaceutical inputs such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), syringes, diagnostic kits, and raw materials. The order also proposed volume guarantees and framework contracts to support local manufacturers.

Additionally, the directive mandated collaboration among key ministries and agencies to fast-track regulatory processes. Agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), NAFDAC, SON, and FIRS were expected to implement these measures with special waivers valid for two years.

By March 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service announced it had begun implementing the policy, stating that eligible pharmaceutical manufacturers with valid tax identification numbers would benefit from tax exemptions on critical raw materials and equipment.

Rising Drug Costs Continue

Despite these efforts, medication prices have continued to rise sharply. Market checks comparing drug prices between June 2024 and August 2025 show that many essential drugs have increased by 30% to over 100%.

For instance:

Insulin rose from ₦14,000 to ₦18,000 — a 29% increase.

Glucometers jumped from ₦20,500 to ₦29,000 (41%).

Metformin increased from ₦500 to ₦650 (30%).

Amlodipine rose from ₦1,800 to ₦2,400 (33%).

Exforge, a hypertension drug, surged from ₦32,800 to ₦60,000 (83%).

Malaria treatments also witnessed sharp hikes:

Coartem rose by 124%, from ₦3,800 to ₦8,500.

Artesunate injection climbed from ₦1,600 to ₦2,500 (56%).

Lokmal tablet jumped from ₦1,200 to ₦2,450 (104%).

Only a few drugs saw price drops. For example:

Augmentin decreased from ₦18,500 to ₦14,000 (24%).

Ventolin inhalers dropped from ₦8,500 to ₦7,500 (12%).

The general trend, however, shows that most medications remain unaffordable, especially for chronic disease patients and low-income earners.

Stakeholders Blame Policy Gaps and Structural Issues

Pharmaceutical experts and stakeholders have attributed the persistent price increases to the slow or partial implementation of the executive order, a high dependence on imports, forex volatility, and operational inefficiencies.

The National President of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ambrose Ezeh, noted that the policy had not been effectively enforced, adding that over 75% of medications in Nigeria are imported and are subject to high forex and energy costs.

In the Federal Capital Territory, the local chairman of the association, Olatunji Aloba, acknowledged a partial implementation, noting that while prices of some new imports had started to fall, most drugs in circulation still reflected old pricing structures.

He explained that medicines showing price reductions were mainly prescription-only drugs or recent imports, and stressed that further impact would depend on sustained implementation and competition.

Another pharmacist in Abuja said local production remains low, and high foreign exchange rates continue to drive up costs. Seasonal demand for anti-malarials further exacerbates price hikes.

The President of the Nigerian Medical Association, Prof. Bala Audu, emphasized the urgent need for full implementation of the executive order, saying both patients and healthcare providers continue to bear the burden of high drug costs.

Dr. Tope Osundara, President of the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors, echoed similar concerns. He noted that the limited number of pharmaceutical companies in Nigeria and the prevalence of out-of-pocket payments hinder affordability.

He recommended expanding health insurance access and urged the government to honor the Abuja Declaration, which calls for allocating 15% of the national budget to health.

Patients Still in Distress

Many patients say they have yet to feel any relief from the policy. Chairman of the Lagos State branch of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, Abdulwahab Dauda, said insulin prices have remained high, with some patients paying as much as ₦20,000.

A Lagos trader, Mrs. Idowu Abi, said treating a simple malaria case now costs over ₦16,000, up from under ₦10,000 the previous year.

Mr. Endurance Amogi recalled being charged ₦24,000 for a drug that previously cost ₦4,000, calling for compulsory health insurance to improve affordability.

Concerns Over New Import Levies

The Executive Secretary of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group under the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Frank Muonemeh, warned that a new 4% Free-on-Board (FOB) levy on imports could undermine the benefits of the zero-tariff policy.

He stated that while the zero-tariff regime had helped stabilize prices between March and August 2025, the new charge might erase those gains and push prices higher in 2026. He urged the government to exempt pharmaceutical and food items from the FOB levy to protect public health.

Muonemeh also cautioned that inconsistent policies would discourage investment and disrupt long-term planning in the pharmaceutical sector.

Nigerians Resort to Alternatives Amid Soaring Prices

Across states like Gombe, Plateau, Adamawa, Edo, Yobe, Jigawa, Nasarawa, Kano, and Sokoto, many residents say medications have become unaffordable, forcing them to turn to traditional herbs or self-medication.

In Gombe, Mallam Ibrahim Adamu reported that painkillers that once sold for ₦300 now cost over ₦1,500, while Fatima Sambo said her diabetic husband often had to buy half the prescribed medication due to cost.

Residents in Plateau and Adamawa noted that anti-malarials were particularly expensive, with some paying over ₦13,000 for two packs. Others resorted to herbs due to limited income.

While some in Edo observed slight drops in certain drug prices, others reported rising costs of antibiotics and painkillers, attributing it to possible market sabotage or lack of enforcement.

Yobe residents called for price ceilings and stronger consumer protection, while Jigawa residents lamented irregular supplies in government hospitals, forcing reliance on expensive private pharmacies.

In Nasarawa, a worker said he spent nearly all his July income on medical treatment for a relative, urging the government to act swiftly to address the crisis.

Kano and Sokoto residents also voiced concerns, noting that despite the presidential order, medicine prices remain beyond the reach of average citizens. Some shared stories of having to choose between healthcare and basic needs like food or school fees.