Tunji Alausa, the Minister of State for Health, in an attempt to boost local production of syringes in Nigeria, has called for a ban on the importation of medical syringes into the country.
Alausa, who visited the Afrimedical Manufacturing and Supplies Limited Syringe factory in Ogun State, alongside other government officials and stakeholders, reaffirmed how much the government was backing the local manufacturing sector.
Alausa noted that the restructuring of syringe and needle production in Nigeria was directed at guaranteeing the availability of quality products manufactured by Nigerians to generate employment opportunities for citizens of the country.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) had warned customs agents against the importation of syringes from foreign countries. This was done to support locally-made syringes.
Other personalities who visited Afrimedical include:
- The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite
- The Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande
- Director-General, NAFDAC, Mojisola Adeyeye
- United Nations Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed
- Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Aisha Rimi.
Speaking further, the Minister of State for Health implored NAFDAC to ensure that unchecked importation of syringes does not affect the development of the local industry through unhealthy competition.
“Don’t give them any more authorisation to import. We need to protect the local industry through the backwards integration model aimed at enhancing the local capacity,’’ he said.
(Premium Times)
