Dangote Canvasses End of Health Tourism, Nigeria Making Own Drugs

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has called for an end to Nigeria’s dependence on medical tourism, urging a decisive shift toward local drug manufacturing to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.

Speaking at the Gates Foundation’s Goalkeepers event in Lagos, Dangote declared, “What we need to do is to make sure we stop this health tourism and we should now get in to start producing our own drugs.”

The billionaire industrialist emphasized the need for strategic partnerships to make this vision a reality, citing the successful collaboration with the Gates Foundation in eradicating polio and combating malnutrition in Nigeria.

According to Dangote, local pharmaceutical production is not only essential for national health security but also critical for reducing the billions of naira lost annually to foreign medical trips.

“Every Nigerian, regardless of status, deserves access to quality healthcare at home,” he said.

Healthcare experts have echoed his sentiments, warning that Nigeria’s reliance on imported Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) leaves the country vulnerable to global supply chain disruptions.

Dangote’s comments come amid growing concerns over the state of Nigeria’s health infrastructure and renewed calls for government and private sector investment in the pharmaceutical sector.

If his call is heeded, the move could mark a major turning point in Nigeria’s healthcare narrative from one of dependence to self-reliance.