Posted on: Sat 01-11-2025

In a powerful address at the 6th Public Lecture of the Board of Fellows of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), held at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, former presidential candidate Peter Obi issued a stark warning: Nigeria’s healthcare system is failing its people—and the consequences are deadly.

Obi called on the federal government to dramatically increase investment in healthcare, citing Nigeria’s dismal ranking of 157 out of 190 countries in life expectancy. “Your health is your wealth,” he emphasized. “Only healthy citizens can drive productivity and development.”

He criticized the skyrocketing cost of essential medicines and the lack of access to quality care, especially for the poor. “Many Nigerians resort to prayers when they fall sick, seeking spiritual cures instead of medical help,” Obi lamented. He urged the government to provide universal health insurance and prioritize local drug manufacturing to reduce dependence on imports.

Obi also highlighted the importance of health equity, noting that under the Sustainable Development Goals, access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. “Unfortunately, the reverse is the case in Nigeria,” he said.

Supporting Obi’s call, Dr. Afam Obidike, Anambra State Commissioner for Health, revealed plans for a Pharmaceutical Industrial City in Orumba South, aimed at transforming Nigeria from a drug-importing nation to a manufacturing powerhouse. “It will be the biggest pharmaceutical distributors’ hub in West Africa,” Obidike announced.

The event’s theme, “Access to Quality Medicines in an Opinion Unstable Environment,” sparked urgent dialogue among stakeholders. Dr. Joel Adagadzu, Chairman of the PSN Board of Fellows, affirmed that the recommendations from the lecture would guide ongoing advocacy for equitable access to medicines.

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