By Abdullahi Yusuf
The National President of the Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors(GMLD),Dr. Samuel O. Fele,has lamented what he termed as the overwhelming dependence on imported diagnostic reagents.
Fele made the lamentation in Kano on Wednesday in a welcome address at the opening of the 27th GMLD National Scientific Conference and Annual General Meeting(AGM) with the Theme:”From Import Dependency To Indigenous Solutions: Strengthening Nigeria’s Diagnostic Sovereignty.”
The National President said:”Today, our nation faces a stark reality: the overwhelming dependence on imported diagnostic reagents which are the backbone of modern medicine, essential for accurate diagnosis, monitoring and treatment.
“Yet, year after year, billions of our scarce foreign resources are expended to import over 70%-80% of these materials which we have the knowledge, capacity and expertise to produce in-country.
“Whereas, the global In-Vitro Diagnostics market was valued at $92.5 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $138.4 billion by 2032, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.1% from 2023 to 2032. In the United States alone, the In-Vitro Diagnostics market size was estimated at $29.86 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 3.70% from 2024 to 2030.
“Nigeria and indeed Africa with a population of 1,556,249,749 peoples as of September 11, 2025, which is equivalent to 18.83% of the total world population (based on Worldometer’s elaboration of the latest United Nations data) boast of huge market taking advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement which commenced operation in January 1, 2021.
“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 whereby flights were grounded, borders shut and our laboratories were left stranded unable to import necessary reagents for diagnosis.
“It undermines our economic sovereignty and limits opportunities for our Medical Laboratory Scientists, industries and entrepreneurs.
“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.
“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. Let me be clear, we cannot achieve this mission and vision alone,” Fele said.
He, therefore, called on the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and associated Ministries, State Governments and Agencies of Government at all levels and our regulatory agency “to come together in a One-Stop-Shop for: Establishment of National Biotechnology and Diagnostic Reagents Park that will serve as hubs for research, manufacturing and quality assurance.”
Declaring the conference open, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf who was represented by the State Commissioner of Health,Dr Labaran Abubakar, said Nigeria should rise to the challenge to produce its own diagnostic reagents and other health care products so as to address the dependency problem.
He expressed the State Government’s readiness to partner with the Guild to improve healthcare delivery in the state.