Nigeria, EU Sign Landmark Health Agreements to Boost Local Manufacturing and Strengthen Healthcare Access
The Federal Government of Nigeria and the European Union (EU) on Thursday signed three landmark agreements to accelerate investment in local pharmaceutical manufacturing, expand vaccine access, and improve reproductive health systems across West Africa.
Speaking at the Nigeria–EU Health Investment Forum and Signing Ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, said the partnership represents “a platform that embodies our shared aspiration for a healthier, more resilient, and more prosperous world through EU–Nigeria partnership.”
He explained that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding:
“Our shared vision is to build a stronger and more competitive pharmaceutical sector that drives innovation, job creation, and mutual prosperity.”
Referencing findings from the World Bank–IFC Country Private Sector Diagnostic Report (2025), the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s vast potential for pharmaceutical growth and investment.
“Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing subsector holds enormous potential for technology transfer, value addition, and employment generation,” he said, noting that the government remains focused on policies that “encourage private-sector investment and long-term economic transformation.”
He further stated that Nigeria’s Agenda 2050 aims to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, driven by private-sector participation and reforms that promote stability and competitiveness.
“President Tinubu has shown exceptional courage by undertaking the difficult but necessary reforms to place our economy on the right track,” the Minister said.
Representing the Vice President, Dr. Uju Rochas, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Health (Office of the Vice President), described the agreements as “a turning point in Nigeria’s health investment journey.”
She said: “Our message is clear — Nigeria is open for health investment, innovation, and impact. The President has declared that Nigeria’s health transformation will not be driven by aid and dependency, but by ownership, accountability, and innovation — made in Nigeria, for Nigerians, and by Nigerians.”
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, praised the partnership as evidence of a new model of cooperation, reaffirming the EU’s commitment to supporting health resilience and local production through the Global Gateway Initiative.
The three agreements signed are:
1. ELM-N – Enabling Local Manufacturing of Health, Immunisation and Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria
2. QUALIMEDS – Quality Uplift for Advancing Local Industry in Medicine Standards
3. SRHR-WA – Strengthening Reproductive Health and Rights in West Africa
These agreements build on the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), launched in 2023, which targets 70% domestic production of essential medicines by 2030, supported by fiscal incentives such as the 2024 Executive Order waiving tariffs and VAT on pharmaceutical machinery and raw materials.
Senator Bagudu concluded:
“Nigeria should be the first destination for any investor seeking growth in Africa. This partnership is a reflection of President Tinubu’s vision for a prosperous, self-reliant, and globally competitive Nigeria.”
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