A prominent member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has publicly called on President Bola Tinubu to ensure the full enforcement of an executive order intended to reduce the cost of essential medicines and medical equipment.
Speaking to journalists in Osogbo, Oyintiloye acknowledged the President’s directive, issued in June 2024, which introduced zero tariffs, excise duties, and Value Added Tax on specific raw materials and machinery to lower production costs for local pharmaceutical manufacturers.
However, he noted that despite this policy and a subsequent announcement by the Nigeria Customs Service in March 2025 confirming the commencement of implementation, the anticipated reduction in drug prices has not been fully realized.
While acknowledging a slight decrease in the cost of some medicines like Augmentin and Ventolin inhalers, Oyintiloye emphasized that many critical, life-saving drugs remain prohibitively expensive for the average Nigerian. He specifically mentioned that the prices of insulin, Metformin, and Exforge are still very high.
Oyintiloye expressed concern that many citizens continue to struggle with the soaring cost of medications, undermining the objective of the executive order. He praised the President’s commitment to improving healthcare delivery but stressed that more needed to be done to translate the policy into tangible relief for patients.
The APC chieftain urged the President to direct relevant agencies to ensure the complete and effective implementation of the order. This, he believes, would empower local manufacturers to reduce their prices significantly, thereby making essential medical consumables more affordable and accessible to all Nigerians.
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cc: Daily Post NG
