The former Osun lawmaker, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to ensure full implementation of the executive order on reducing the cost of essential drugs and medical equipment.
Oyintiloye, a member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council, said in a statement on Sunday that despite the order signed in June 2024, which removed tariffs, excise duties, and VAT on medical machinery and raw materials, drug prices remain prohibitive.
He noted that although the Nigeria Customs Service announced commencement of the policy in March 2025, life-saving drugs such as insulin, Metformin, and Exforge are still sold at high prices. He, however, acknowledged marginal drops in the prices of Augmentin and Ventolin inhalers.
The ex-lawmaker urged Tinubu to enforce the policy to strengthen local manufacturers and make essential medicines affordable, stressing that many Nigerians remain under severe financial strain.
Oyintiloye however commended the administration for subsidising kidney dialysis in federal hospitals, reducing the cost of each session from an average of N50,000 to N12,000. He described the initiative as a major relief for patients battling with kidney disease.
