By Ebi Kesiena
The Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) has raised fresh concerns about Nigeria’s heavy reliance on imported diagnostic reagents and laboratory equipment.
Speaking at the Guild’s 27th Annual Scientific Conference, which took place in Kano, the National President, Dr Samuel Fele, warned that the growing dependence on foreign supplies has the ripple effect of draining the nation’s limited resources.
He noted that billions of naira are being channelled into imports, despite the fact that Nigeria possesses the knowledge, expertise, and capacity to manufacture these essential materials locally.
“Year after year, billions of our scarce resources are expended to import over 70 per cent to 80 per cent of these materials which we have the knowledge, capacity and expertise to produce in the country,” he said.
As a result, the medic insisted that Nigeria needed to learn a lesson from the COVID-19 pandemic when flights were grounded, borders shut, and our laboratories were left stranded, unable to import necessary reagents for diagnosis.
“This is not just an economic issue alone. It is a matter of national security and survival. It exposes us to global supply chain disruptions, as we witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It undermines our economic sovereignty and limits opportunities for our medical laboratory scientists, industries, and entrepreneurs. So, how long shall we remain at the mercy of others for what we can produce ourselves?
“We have the wherewithal, knowledge, expertise, and technical know-how needed as we do not need to re-invent the wheel. These reagents were once being massively produced in this country for local consumption in the 80s and early 90s,” he reminded.
He pointed out, “This is not a call for isolation from the global community but rather it is a call for self-reliance, sustainability and national pride, while remaining open to international cooperation.”
Delete noted that this year’s theme: “From Import Dependency to Indigenous Solutions: Strengthening Nigeria’s Diagnostic Sovereignty” promises to be a game changer in the approach and delivery of world standard medical laboratory service to Nigerians.
Meanwhile. in his opening address, Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf commended the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors (GMLD) for choosing Kano as the host of its 27th Annual Scientific Conference, noting that it marked the first time the gathering was being held in the core north.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran, the governor reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to strengthen healthcare delivery across Kano.
The conference brought together a wide array of stakeholders, including professionals, academics, and policymakers, to discuss strategies for reducing dependence on imported diagnostic equipment, reagents, and expertise, while advancing indigenous capabilities and promoting homegrown technologies.
