Emzor Pharmaceutical Industries Limited has urged the Nigerian government and private investors to prioritise investment in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) as a key step to reduce the country’s heavy malaria burden.
The call was made as the world marked World Malaria Day 2026, with the theme “Driven to End Malaria: Now We Can. Now We Must.”
Nigeria remains the country most affected by malaria globally. According to the World Health Organization, the country accounts for about 27 percent of global malaria cases and nearly one in three malaria-related deaths. Children under five and pregnant women are the most vulnerable.
Read also: Emzor pushes local drug production to tackle Nigeria’s maternal death crisis
Emzor said, while access to finished medicines is important, the real challenge lies deeper in the pharmaceutical value chain. The company noted that most APIs, the key raw materials used in producing medicines, are still imported, making Nigeria dependent on foreign supply.
Uzoma Ezeoke, executive director at Emzor, said this dependence exposes the country to global supply disruptions and weakens efforts to control malaria effectively.
Ezeoke explained that building local API capacity will ensure steady production of high-quality antimalarial drugs, reduce costs over time, and improve access to treatment across the country.
According to the executive director, local API production is not just an industrial ambition but a necessary step to protect public health.
“Local manufacturing is no longer optional, it is central to our national health security, economic stability, and the long-term sustainability of malaria control efforts. To truly end malaria, we must close identified critical access gaps. This means building a system where we produce high-quality, WHO-compliant antimalarials right here at home, protecting our patients from the volatility of global supply chain disruptions,” Ezeoke revealed.
Emeka Okoli, chairman of Emzor Group, described API investment as the next frontier in Nigeria’s fight against malaria.
He said developing this capacity will strengthen the pharmaceutical sector, create jobs, and position Nigeria as a leading drug manufacturing hub in Africa.
Okoli added that without local API production, efforts to eliminate malaria may remain slow and vulnerable to external shocks.
“Ending malaria in a sustainable way requires more than expanding access to medicines, it requires building the foundation of pharmaceutical independence. Local manufacturing of APIs is the next frontier for Nigeria and Africa. At Emzor, we believe that investing in API capability is not just an industrial goal, it is a public health imperative and a critical step toward a malaria-free future,” Okoli affirmed.
Beyond raw materials, Emzor stressed the need to expand access to effective and easy-to-use treatments, especially for children.
The company highlighted its paediatric antimalarial drug, Lokmal Dispersible Tablets, designed to dissolve easily in water or milk, making it easier for caregivers to administer to young children.
It also pointed to Maldox, which is used to prevent malaria in pregnant women and reduce health risks for mothers and babies.
Ezeoke said solutions like these are important but must be supported by a stronger local manufacturing system that begins with API production.
Read also: Emzor committed to eradicating malaria in Nigeria
She noted that Nigeria cannot rely only on imported inputs if it hopes to achieve long-term malaria elimination.
Emzor also called for stronger collaboration between government, policymakers, development partners, and the private sector.
The company urged stakeholders to create policies that support local manufacturing, encourage investment in APIs, and improve infrastructure across the pharmaceutical industry.
Okoli said Nigeria has the capacity to lead Africa in drug production but must act quickly and decisively.
He stressed that the fight against malaria requires more than commitment—it requires investment, coordination, and sustained action.
As efforts to eliminate malaria continue, Emzor said building a self-reliant pharmaceutical system anchored on API production will be critical to saving lives and reducing the disease burden across Nigeria.
