Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has declared his administration’s plan to commence the production of essential drugs by 2026, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, made this known during an inspection of the Central Medical Stores managed by the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (DMA). He revealed that preparations were underway to revive the long-abandoned Edo Pharmaceutical Company, a move aimed at reducing medical tourism and cutting healthcare costs in the state.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Friday Aghedo, the governor lamented that facilities at the pharmaceutical company and medical stores were vandalised during the 2020 EndSARS protests but assured that the government was determined to restore them to full operation.
“The state is desirous to put the facility to good use through the production of essential drugs, which will ease medical costs in Edo and across the South-South region,” he said.
Okpebholo further disclosed that the initiative would leverage the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), designed to boost local production of medical products and attract private sector investment into the health industry.
During the inspection, Idahosa emphasised the administration’s commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of drugs supplied to state hospitals. “We checked the drugs at the stores to confirm that their manufacturing and expiration dates were intact. This means those drugs are safe for use by Edo people,” he stated.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, who was part of the delegation, reaffirmed the government’s dedication to affordable and accessible healthcare. He explained that the state’s drug management system encourages “pooled purchasing” — a model where multiple states collaborate to buy drugs in bulk, leading to reduced prices.
Oshiomhole added that the revived pharmaceutical company would not only serve Edo but also supply federal medical centres and private pharmacies, creating what he described as a “win-win situation” for all stakeholders.
He also revealed that essential drugs such as Panadol and antimalarial medicines would top the state’s 2026 production list, noting that the initiative had been captured in Edo’s forthcoming annual health plan.
“The PVAC will allow us to partner with the Federal Government and local manufacturers to make drugs affordable for our people,” he said.
With the revival of the Edo Pharmaceutical Company, the Okpebholo administration hopes to make the state a key hub for drug manufacturing in the South-South region, strengthening the local healthcare value chain and reducing dependence on imported medicines.
