Sick People Still Dey Suffer as Presido Order No Fit Stop Drug Price Wahala

Even though President Bola Tinubu sign Executive Order since June 2024 to bring down drug prices by removing tariff, VAT, and excise duty on pharmaceutical raw materials and machines, Nigerians never still see the effect. NDLEA, Customs, and other agencies say dem don start implementation, but drug prices still dey rise sharply. Many drugs like insulin, malaria meds, and hypertension tablets don increase by 30% to over 100% within just one year. Only few drugs like Augmentin and Ventolin inhaler drop small. Experts say the wahala na because the policy never fully enter ground, local production still low, and foreign exchange plus energy cost dey high.

People wey dey live with chronic sickness like diabetes and hypertension dey complain say dem no fit afford medicine again. Some dey turn to herbs, others dey manage symptoms without full treatment. Pharmacists and health workers blame government for poor enforcement and say the benefits of the executive order still dey on paper. Residents across states like Lagos, Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, and Plateau say dem no see any drop in prices, and some even buy malaria drugs for as high as N13,800. Meanwhile, manufacturers warn say new 4% FOB import levy fit cancel all the gains from the zero-tariff policy, making drugs even more expensive in 2026 if nothing change. Dem beg government to align policies and support local drug production to make health care affordable.