Tinubu’s executive order fails to reduce prices of drugs in Nigeria

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s executive order, issued on June 30, has not succeeded in lowering the cost of medications and pharmaceutical goods for Nigerians.

Back in June, Tinubu, through Health Minister Muhammed Ali Pate, introduced the policy with the aim of making medicines more affordable.

The directive was designed to boost local pharmaceutical manufacturing by eliminating import charges, excise taxes, and VAT on raw materials and equipment used in drug production.

Ali Pate shared news of the executive order in a personal statement posted on his social media platform.

“The Order introduces zero tariffs, excise duties, and VAT on specified machinery, equipment, and raw materials, aiming to reduce production costs and enhance our local manufacturers’ competitiveness,” he wrote on X.

This came after the federal Executive Council gave the green light to Medipool for ensuring competitive pricing and the distribution of essential medicines nationwide.

Despite the enactment of this order, medicine prices have continued to climb, remaining unaffordable for many citizens.

Recent market analysis indicates that the price of insulin increased by 29 percent, moving from N14,000 in June 2024 to N18,000 in August 2025. Similarly, the cost of a glucometer surged by 41 percent, from N20,500 to N29,000.

Patients managing high blood pressure are also affected. The price of metformin rose by 30 percent, from N500 to N650, while amlodipine saw a 33 percent increase, going from N1,800 to N2,400. Exforge, another drug for hypertension, skyrocketed by 83 percent, from N32,800 to N60,000.

The situation is even more concerning for malaria treatment, where costs have nearly doubled.

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Coartem, a common antimalarial medication, experienced a 124 percent spike, rising from N3,800 to N8,500. Artesunate injections climbed 56 percent, moving from N1,600 to N2,500. The Lokmal tablet, which cost N1,200 last year, now sells for N2,450 a 104.2 percent jump.

However, there were slight decreases in the prices of some medications. Augmentin fell by 24 percent, dropping from N18,500 in June 2024 to N14,000 in August 2025. Ventolin inhaler also saw a 12 percent decline, going from N8,500 to N7,500.

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