Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that Premium Motor Spirit topped the chart of imported goods with N1.2 trillion, followed by gas oil at N261.6 billion and Durum wheat at N252.6 billion
The NBS) also said a total of N205.38 billion was spent on import medicines in the first three quarters of this year.
The reports revealed that most of the medications were imported from China, India, Malaysia, and the Netherlands.
The country imported N63.01 billion in medications in the first quarter (January to March), mostly from the Netherlands (N22.32 billion), India (N18.77 billion), China (N8.63 billion), and France (N2.33 billion).
There was, however, an increase in medication imports in the second quarter (April to June) worth N93.63 billion. The medications imported for the quarter were majorly from Malaysia (N46.51 billion), India (N26.02 billion), China (N10.02 billion), Germany (N2.06 billion), and France (N1.3 billion).
In the third quarter (July to September), the report revealed that medications worth N48.7 billion were imported into Nigeria.
Earlier in August, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, decried the high dependency on the importation of health goods in the African region.
Ehanire, who spoke at the 72nd session of the World Health Organisation Regional Committee for Africa in Lome, Togo, said there was a need to increase the manufacturing capacity in Africa.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Director/Head, Media and Publicity, of the Federal Ministry of Health, Ahmadu Chindaya, the minister said the journey so far had not been easy for the sub-region due to its high dependency on imported goods.
Even though Nigeria is still recovering from COVID-19, Ehanire stated that the country is working hard to strengthen public health security to be better prepared for future challenges and to improve routine health care to achieve universal health coverage.
