Written by SpringNewsNG Media Limited, March 12, 2025

Nigeria is absent from the list of African countries poised to secure World Health Organization (WHO) vaccine approval, raising concerns about its long-term health security and competitiveness in the biotechnology sector. This exclusion stems from limited infrastructure and capacity, key challenges that continue to hinder the country’s progress in local vaccine manufacturing.

The Africa Centre for Disease Control (Africa CDC) recently announced that vaccine manufacturers from Egypt, Ghana, and Tanzania are set to secure WHO prequalification for eight vaccines between 2025 and 2030. This marks a significant step toward Africa’s goal of self-sufficiency in vaccine production. The next five years will be critical in scaling up production and meeting global regulatory standards, Africa CDC noted.

Nigeria’s Absence and Industry Challenges

Dr. Godwin Ntadom, National Coordinator of the Malaria Elimination Programme, disclosed during a stakeholders’ workshop on malaria vaccine manufacturing in Abuja that Nigeria was not included in the list of manufacturers announced by Africa CDC. Representing Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ntadom reassured that local manufacturing remains a priority for the administration.

Despite government commitments, Nigeria struggles with vaccine production due to the absence of local raw materials, high production costs, and foreign exchange instability. Pharmaceutical manufacturers cite the lack of petrochemical plants as a major impediment to sourcing essential inputs domestically. However, Ntadom highlighted progress in pharmaceutical production, stating that Nigeria now produces items previously imported, such as mosquito nets and anti-malarial medicines.

Lagging Behind African Peers

Nigeria continues to trail behind other African nations in vaccine manufacturing. Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar produces WHO-approved yellow fever vaccines, while South Africa’s Biovac Institute has partnered with Pfizer-BioNTech to manufacture COVID-19 vaccines.

Africa CDC has also established Regional Capability and Capacity Networks (RCCNs) to bridge the continent’s bio-manufacturing and research skills gap. Selected institutions include Morocco’s Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Egypt’s Unified Procurement Authority, Rwanda’s Africa Biomanufacturing Institute, Senegal’s Institut Pasteur de Dakar, and South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. These organizations play crucial roles in Africa’s vaccine ambitions, having successfully built infrastructure, secured investments, and forged partnerships with global pharmaceutical firms.

Africa has set an ambitious target of producing 40% of its vaccines locally by 2040, up from the current 1%. To meet this goal, the continent must significantly expand its vaccine manufacturing workforce from 3,000 to 12,000 full-time employees in research and development. The vaccine market in Africa is projected to reach $1.58 billion by 2025, with steady growth anticipated in subsequent years.

Why Nigeria Is Falling Behind

Ayuba Ibrahim, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, attributes Nigeria’s lag in vaccine manufacturing to low investment and a preference for importing vaccines, which remains more commercially viable. He emphasized that inadequate infrastructure makes setting up drug manufacturing plants prohibitively expensive.

Simon Agwale, CEO of Innovative Biotech, described Africa’s dependence on vaccine imports as unacceptable. He argued that Nigeria has a huge opportunity to build local capacity but must commit more funding to research and development. Agwale pointed out that a single institution, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, has an annual budget of $42 billion—more than Nigeria’s entire national budget.

Agwale recommended an Advance Purchase Commitment model, where the government guarantees future purchases from local manufacturers to incentivize investment. He criticized Nigeria’s decision to spend billions on vaccine imports during the COVID-19 pandemic instead of channeling part of those funds into developing local manufacturing facilities.

The Way Forward

For Nigeria to catch up with its African counterparts, strategic investments in infrastructure, research funding, and policy incentives are essential. Establishing vaccine manufacturing plants will not only strengthen national health security but also position Nigeria as a key player in Africa’s growing biotech industry. Without urgent action, the country risks continued dependency on foreign imports, undermining its long-term health and economic prospects.