- Summons Health Minister, Trade Minister, NAFDAC DG Over Breach In Implementation of Backward Integration Policy
The Nigerian Senate Committee on Health has summoned the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Trade and Industry, Chief Niyi Adebayo and Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye to appear before it on April 15, 2021 to explain the importation of about one billion syringes and needles from China and India against policy guidelines.
The Senate Committee took the decision after a two-day public hearing that focuses on “the need to regulate the manufacturing, importation, and use of syringes and needles to protect the lives and safety of Nigerians as well as the economy of Nigeria.”
Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, Chairman Senate Committee on Health lamented the failure to patronise local industries that manufacture syringes and needles in line the country’s policy direction on trade.
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He bemoaned the deliberate refusal of the Ministry of Trade and Industry to implement the “Backward Integration Policy” on local production of syringes in the last five years.
According to Sen. Oloriegbe, it was against the state policy that NAFDAC also licensed companies in India and China to import syringes and needles into Nigeria.
Going further, he lamented that the licensing of foreign companies has killed local manufacturers of syringes and needles.
Oloriegbe added that local manufacturers have capacity to meet the over one billion units of syringe and needle per annum needed in Nigeria, saying the development had denied the country of huge foreign exchange.
His word reads, “We asked the Ministers to appear before the Committee on April 15, to explain, since they are in the mainstream of Backward Integration Policy implementation.
“NAFDAC too would have to produce a list of companies it has licensed in the last fifteen years”, Oloriegbe said.
The New Diplomat understands that the backward integration policy backed by the Nigerian government is targeted at sourcing specific inputs or raw materials locally as it is geared towards protecting Nigerian owned businesses.
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