‘Drugs Too Expensive In Nigeria’ – APC Chieftain Tells Tinubu

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full enforcement of his executive order aimed at reducing the cost of essential medical consumables across the country.

Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Osogbo, Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker and member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, said that despite Tinubu’s June 2024 directive abolishing tariffs, excise duties, and VAT on medical equipment and raw materials, the cost of life-saving drugs remains out of reach for many Nigerians.

“Despite the President’s executive order on reducing prices of medical consumables, many life-saving drugs are still priced very high,” he lamented.

Oyintiloye noted that the policy, designed to lower production costs and boost local pharmaceutical competitiveness, had not translated into the expected relief for patients.

“Although the Nigeria Customs Service announced on March 26, 2025, that it had commenced the implementation of the executive order, drug prices have continued to soar,” he said.

According to him, medicines such as Insulin, Metformin, and Exforge remain expensive, while only a slight reduction has been recorded in the prices of Augmentin and Ventolin inhalers.

Oyintiloye urged President Tinubu to direct strict enforcement of the order to compel local manufacturers and importers to comply.

“I want to appeal to the President to see to the implementation of his executive order on drug prices for the benefit of Nigerians. There is no doubt that the President is doing everything within his power to provide quality healthcare delivery to Nigerians, and I am optimistic he will see to this,” he said.

The APC chieftain stressed that many Nigerians are still struggling to cope with skyrocketing drug prices despite government interventions.

Oyintiloye, however, commended President Tinubu for subsidising the cost of kidney dialysis in federal hospitals, describing it as a major relief for patients battling kidney disease.

He said the reduction in the cost of a single dialysis session from an average of ₦50,000 to ₦12,000 was a lifesaving intervention.

“The President must be commended for this gesture. It shows that the President is a man who is passionate about the well-being of Nigerians,” he said.

According to him, the subsidy reflects Tinubu’s commitment to alleviating the suffering of citizens under economic pressure and should be reciprocated with public support.

“This initiative will bring huge financial relief to many Nigerians under serious financial pressure. People must support the President beyond his current tenure,” he added.

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