The Federal Government and state governments have been urged to provide deeper structural and financial backing for community pharmacists to enable them subsidise essential drugs and ease the cost of healthcare for Nigerians. The appeal was made at the 45th Annual National Scientific Conference of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, ACPN, held from July 27 to August 1, 2026, at the International Conference Centre, Abuja. The conference, themed “UNITY 2026: From Local Pharmacy Practice to Global Impact, Managing Complex Healthcare Systems,” drew government officials, regulators and pharmacists nationwide.
SGF Senator George Akume, who was Special Guest of Honour, praised community pharmacists as frontline professionals and cited President Tinubu’s Executive Order suspending duties and VAT on pharmaceutical inputs as a step to boost local production and lower medicine prices. Niger State Governor Umaru Bago, represented by Dr. Murtala Bagana, also advocated integrating community pharmacies into state health insurance and primary healthcare to strengthen supply chains and reduce retail costs. Speakers including PSN President Pharm. Ayuba Tanko Ibrahim and NAFDAC’s representative Dr. Rametu Momodu stressed technology adoption, stronger regulation and the role of pharmacies in screening, surveillance and fighting counterfeit drugs.
ACPN, in its communiqué, raised concerns over the exit of more than 9,500 pharmacists and worsening drug abuse, and proposed a National Drug Management Agency to coordinate procurement and drug revolving funds, amendments to the Fake Drug Act for tougher penalties, and a National Postgraduate College of Pharmacy. The association also called for community pharmacies to deliver first-contact services like hypertension, diabetes and malaria care to decongest hospitals. The conference elected a new NEC for 2026/2027 led by National Chairman Pharm. Ezeh Ambrose Igwekamma, who pledged to push for implementation of the resolutions to make medicines more accessible and affordable.
