₦airaland Forum

FG Bans Importation of Paracetamol, Metronidazole, Other Medicines in New Trade Policy

The Federal Government has announced a sweeping ban on the importation of several pharmaceutical products, including commonly used drugs such as paracetamol and metronidazole, as part of a revised import prohibition list aimed at strengthening local industries.

The directive, issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and dated April 1, 2026, outlines 17 categories of items now barred from entering the country through any port.

Among the most sensitive aspects of the policy is the restriction on a wide range of medicines classified under pharmaceutical import codes. Affected drugs include paracetamol tablets and syrups, metronidazole, cotrimoxazole, chloroquine, aspirin, folic acid, multivitamins, and several topical antibiotics.

Under the new policy, these products are expected to be sourced locally, placing increased responsibility on Nigeria’s domestic pharmaceutical sector to meet national demand.

Wider Ban Across Key Sectors

Beyond pharmaceuticals, the government also extended the ban to multiple sectors as part of efforts to boost local production and manage foreign exchange.

In the agricultural sector, the importation of frozen poultry, beef, pork, and eggs remains prohibited, with limited exceptions for breeding purposes.

Refined vegetable oils packaged for retail sale, including palm, soybean, and sunflower oils, are also restricted, although crude forms are still allowed for industrial processing.

Household items such as detergents, soaps, and even ballpoint pens have been included in the prohibition list, alongside construction materials like bagged cement and certain steel products.

Implications for Healthcare

The restriction on essential medicines is expected to have significant implications for healthcare delivery.

Industry stakeholders say the success of the policy will depend largely on the capacity of local manufacturers to scale production, maintain quality standards, and ensure consistent supply across the country.

Concerns have also been raised about potential short term shortages and price increases if local production does not meet demand quickly.

Enforcement Begins

The Nigeria Customs Service has been directed to enforce the new regulations, with warnings that non compliant imports will be seized and offenders sanctioned.

Authorities say the move is part of a broader strategy to reduce dependence on imports, strengthen local industries, and stabilise the economy.

What Nigerians Should Know

While the policy is expected to boost local production in the long term, its immediate impact will likely be felt across markets, pharmacies, and households.

Observers say the coming months will determine whether the policy leads to stronger local capacity or creates new supply challenges.

https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-bans-importation-of-paracetamol-metronidazole-other-medicines/#google_vignette


What do you think about this move? Can local manufacturers meet the demand, or should there be a phased approach?

This is really good from the tinubu govt, nigerias pharmaceutical industry needs to be protected we have the capacity for producing world class drugs for our consumption and export.

I am also glad rice has also been removed from the import prohibition list,this will bring down the price for the common man and if rice prices go down,other commodities will also follow.

We will soon start buying paracetamol for 2000 naira a sachet.

It’s a welcome development..

More to come as PBAT wins the re-election..

Dpharmacist:
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-bans-importation-of-paracetamol-metronidazole-other-medicines/#google_vignette


What do you think about this move? Can local manufacturers meet the demand, or should there be a phased approach?

Paracetamol will now be out of reach for the common man.

They are manufactured locally, local content ahead ahead.

Tinubu should resign honourably

Dpharmacist:
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-bans-importation-of-paracetamol-metronidazole-other-medicines/#google_vignette


What do you think about this move? Can local manufacturers meet the demand, or should there be a phased approach?

They've started again. Chaos loading. I can smell it. Anyway, smugglers must chop.

Ban importation of drugs and basic foods for poor Nigerians, travel abroad for medical reasons. Country of particular concern.

This directive is better...


At least, we have some of the best PCM and metro manufacturing companies in the continent.


Emzor is there, Cinnamon Drugs, Juhel, Michelle Laboratory, AC Drug, Chemiron are some great brands here.

Borrow2222:
Paracetamol will now be out of reach for the common man.

I just pity those who're praising the policy. They will see

Cunha247:
Tinubu should resign honourably

This is the honorable thing to do

Then there should also be a policy that regulate arbitrary price increase as well.

The increase in price of RICE and other products is mostly as a result in the stop of importation of such product

Rice episode about to happen all over again….


Flagyl and paracetamol about to be fvcking expensive because local pharma about to take advantage of the situation

In the same way, they should also ban importation of Toyota Landcruiser and Toyota Hilux

stainlink:
Then there should also be a policy that regulate price increase as well

That's the thing. Price regulation is anti-market. But so is this ban.

Anyway, smugglers must be having orgasm just hearing this brilliant news.

Endinjustice:
Ban importation of drugs and basic foods for poor Nigerians, travel abroad for medical reasons. Country of particular concern.

You dey mind them. Another clueless move.

symbianDON:
In the same way, they should also ban importation of Toyota Landcruiser and Toyota Hilux

Hahahahahahahaha… u sabi them…..

They will never pass those kinda laws that will stop what they want

Lithiumite:
This is really good from the tinubu govt, nigerias pharmaceutical industry needs to be protected we have the capacity for producing world class drugs for our consumption and export.

I am also glad rice has also been removed from the import prohibition list,this will bring down the price for the common man and if rice prices go down,other commodities will also follow.

So you want drug imports banned but rice imports allowed. You can't see that paracetamol is as critical to survival as rice. Ok o.

I will go buy like twenty rolls now for safe keeping before the useless policy kick in.

advanceDNA:
Rice episode about to happen all over again….


Flagyl and paracetamol about to be fvcking expensive because local pharma about to take advantage of the situation

Toktee:
I will go buy like twenty rolls now for safe keeping before the useless policy kick in.

Your head dey there. Way to go.

Dpharmacist:
https://thenationonlineng.net/fg-bans-importation-of-paracetamol-metronidazole-other-medicines/#google_vignette


What do you think about this move? Can local manufacturers meet the demand, or should there be a phased approach?

Most paracetamol currently sold in Nigeria is produced locally. So the ban is superfluous. Unnecessary. It's a bad move since they're taking away the chance to import quickly if something happens and there's undersupply from local producers. They're also allowing the locals to raise prices the way they like.

This can only create problems. Who followed the news of baby food shortage in the US two years ago? And they didn't even have a ban there. And who remembers our experience with cement?

Also, I always thought President Tinubu was a market fundamentalist and avowed deregulationist?

they should state the drugs that are banned, before they catch people unaware especially the elderly eg BP drugs, hypertensive, asthma etc. because dis is a government that will do something, when it affects the masses, they will now reverse back after people might have died.

This is great to encourage local production of the basic things we use.

On paper this is a very good development. But trust Nigerian manufacturers and middle men, they will soon inflate the prices on those items. The aggrieved importers will then do everything to sabotage the move. The next thing, we’ll start hearing “ebi pa wa,”. Then the government will be left with no other option than to lift the ban.
Then we are back to square one. My country Nigeria, very complex country.

JuanDeDios:
Most paracetamol currently sold in Nigeria is produced locally. So the ban is superfluous. Unnecessary. It's a bad move since they're taking away the chance to import quickly if something happens and there's undersupply from local producers. They're also allowing the locals to raise prices the way they like.

This can only create problems. Who followed the news of baby food shortage on the US two years ago? And they didn't even have a ban there. And who remembers our experience with cement?

Also, I always thought President Tinubu was a market fundamentalist and avowed deregulationist?

is M&B paracetamol locally made or imported?

TossTos:
More to come as PBAT wins the re-election..

Dreamers of the century.

Lithiumite:
This is really good from the tinubu govt, nigerias pharmaceutical industry needs to be protected we have the capacity for producing world class drugs for our consumption and export.

I am also glad rice has also been removed from the import prohibition list,this will bring down the price for the common man and if rice prices go down,other commodities will also follow.

Yeah, that's if it doesn't become the case of rice also, where after ban, the price of the locally produced commodity skyrocketed.

Olaide1295:
This is great to encourage local production of the basic things we use.

All these agbado logic sef. Buhari banned importation of rice and other basic food for common Nigerians to "encourage local farmers " you haters of Nigeria supported it. The same farmers who could not go to farms due high level of insecurity. Nigerians became poorer and poorer. Now tinubu the incompetent failure is towing the same path, but when the lazy failure feels dizzy, he travels abroad for medicals. We know really enemies of Nigeria.

Even with all this all local pharmaceutical industries. Nigeria is not even ripe