Nigeria still cannot produce vaccines locally despite ongoing efforts to build technical capacity today.
Officials say vaccine manufacturing requires careful planning, economic feasibility and strong systems before moving forward.
Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, says Nigeria is still unable to produce vaccines locally, noting that the country must meet key technical and economic conditions before such production can begin.
Salako spoke during an interview on Channels Television’s program ‘Politics Today’ on Thursday. He explained that despite ongoing efforts under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain, Nigeria has not yet reached the stage where vaccines can be manufactured within the country.
When asked directly if Nigeria could currently produce vaccines, he replied, “Unfortunately, not.” He added that vaccine production is a complex process that demands proper planning, strong capacity, and clear economic benefits.
According to him, it is not enough for a country to simply express interest in producing vaccines. He said several questions must be answered, including whether the country has the advantage to produce at a cost that makes sense. “If producing locally costs more than importing, then it defeats the purpose. You must do all the analysis,” he stated.
Salako highlighted Nigeria’s large population as an important factor that can support future production, but stressed that the market must still meet global expectations.
He assured Nigerians that despite the current limitations, the nation’s health security system is strong and ready to handle any international health threats or outbreaks.
