Nigeria begins two-year tax exemption on pharmaceutical raw materials to propel local production 

The Nigerian government has announced the commencement of a two-year exemption from import duty and Value Added Tax (VAT) on critical raw materials used in pharmaceutical production.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) disclosed this on Tuesday, stating that the exemption applies to essential inputs such as Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), excipients, and raw materials for producing essential medicines, Long-Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs), Rapid Diagnostic Kits, reagents, and packaging materials.

This directive, approved by President Bola Tinubu, through the ministry of finance, is expected to help “strengthen” Nigeria’s healthcare sector and “reduce healthcare costs and boost local manufacturing,” the NCS said.

The move follows the Nigerian government’s plan to increase local manufacturing of pharmaceutical products to meet at least 70 percent of domestic demand by 2030 through presidential initiatives announced last year.

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The Nigerian pharmaceutical market is projected to reach $1.84 billion in revenue by 2025, with oncology drugs being the largest segment, yet over 70 percent of medicines in Nigeria are imported, exposing a heavy reliance on foreign pharmaceutical products.

The new incentive hopes to help fix this. However, only recognised pharmaceutical manufacturers, as verified by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, can partake.

“To ensure these fiscal incentives achieve their purpose, only manufacturers with a valid Tax Identification Number (TIN) will benefit,” Customs’ statement read.

For transparency, the NCS says it will compile and publish quarterly reports detailing all importations under this exemption, including importer details, quantities, and values of items imported.

The customs service urged stakeholders, including importers and relevant regulatory bodies, to collaborate in ensuring the policy’s success.