Nigeria doesn’t want to be caught off guard again. It’s a lesson every nation learns eventually: in a global crisis, self-sufficient is important for survival, not just for pride. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the country had to wait months while wealthier nations hoarded vaccine supplies.
By the time Nigeria received its first shipment of nearly 4 million doses from the COVAX initiative in March 2021, many other countries had already vaccinated large numbers of people. This experience taught Nigeria a tough lesson about dependence on others.
Nigeria is now stepping up efforts to manufacture its own vaccines, according to the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, says the nation must not wait for another pandemic to build vaccine self-sufficiency.” Its overdependence on foreign supplies has revealed the risks of relying on international donors for critical health interventions.
Addressing Nigeria’s Critical Vaccine Gap
Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and one of its biggest markets for medicine. However, most vaccines used in Nigeria, from childhood shots to routine adult vaccines, come from other countries. Even regional organisations like Gavi and UNICEF help fill the gaps that local production cannot meet.
The pandemic highlighted this issue. When wealthy countries restricted supply chains and production, Nigeria and its neighbours fell to the end of the line for vaccines. This experience intensified the call for Africa to take charge of its health security.
To address this, NAFDAC has spent the last three years preparing for change.
NAFDAC Secures Key WHO Status for Future Export
Many people outside the health sector are unaware of how much has changed. In 2022, NAFDAC earned World Health Organisation Maturity Level 3 status. This means Nigeria’s system for regulating medicines and imported vaccines now meets a high global standard. This is the same level achieved by countries like India and Brazil before they developed their vaccine industries.
NAFDAC now aims to achieve this standard for vaccines made in Nigeria, a requirement for the WHO prequalification. This approval is necessary for Nigeria to produce and export vaccines internationally.
To support this goal, NAFDAC set up a Directorate for Vaccines, Biologics, and Medical Devices in 2024. This change aligns Nigeria’s system with global best practices. It is also one of the few agencies in sub-Saharan Africa with its own lab for testing vaccines and biologics. This gives NAFDAC control over the entire process, from production to post-market checks.
This new capability affects the whole process: market approval, clinical trial monitoring, inspections, and safety checks. Now, Nigeria has the regulatory foundation to support a vaccine industry. Next, it needs strong industrial support.
The Next Step: From “Fill and Finish” to Full Manufacturing
Adeyeye says local pharmaceutical manufacturers don’t have to wait for billion-dollar factories to begin. The first phase, known as fill and finish operations, involves importing bulk vaccine components, filling them into vials, packaging, and distributing them locally.
It’s how countries like Indonesia and Thailand began before scaling into full production. It builds local expertise, jobs, and supply resilience, one batch at a time.
“The strengthened regulatory framework, combined with the Federal Government’s commitment, provides a strong foundation for local vaccine manufacturing in Nigeria,” Adeyeye said. “NAFDAC remains committed to supporting manufacturers and ensuring that all locally produced vaccines meet global standards.”
This push aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which emphasises domestic industrialisation and improved access to healthcare.
Why This Matters
Vaccine self-sufficiency is important not only for health but also for our independence. Making vaccines locally means Nigeria won’t have to rely on others. It leads to shorter wait times during health crises, quicker responses to outbreaks, and stronger influence in global health discussions.
Local vaccine production can also boost the economy. It can attract billions in investment, create skilled jobs, and support pharmaceutical research in West Africa. If Nigeria succeeds, it could become a regional vaccine centre, similar to what India achieved in the early 2000s.
The pandemic taught us how vulnerable global supply chains can be. As new diseases arise, access to vaccines will impact health and national security. For Nigeria, this goal goes beyond public health but statement of independence.
