The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on Chinese businessmen and other industrialists in Nigeria’s health sector to reduce the importation of medical equipment and instead set up assembly plants in the country.
This appeal was made during a meeting in Abuja with a delegation from the Royal Meditech Equipments (Nig) Company Limited, led by its Director, Gari Li, on Saturday.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, emphasized the need for local production of essential medical machines, such as Intensive Care Unit ventilators and feeding pumps, to bolster the country’s health security and create jobs.
He stated the economic challenges posed by the current naira situation and stressed that establishing local production facilities would be beneficial.
“Our nation is currently pursuing health security through industrialization. This idea is a result of post-COVID analysis, where our dependence on provisions from other countries became evident. Basic things were not locally sourced; most were imported,” Kalu stated. He added that the current administration aims to increase indigenous support for health structures to avoid such dependencies in the future.
Kalu encouraged Royal Meditech Equipments to consider integrating local production in their long-term or mid-term plans. “Leveraging your knowledge, you could start assembling and manufacturing a few essential medical equipment here in Nigeria. This would align with our economic conditions, which do not favor heavy importation due to our currency challenges,” he explained.
The Deputy Speaker noted the federal government’s approval of substantial funds to support manufacturing in the health sector and suggested that strategic partnerships between indigenous companies and foreign partners could facilitate the establishment of manufacturing outfits in Nigeria.
He also urged the company to utilize Nigeria’s vast lithium deposits to build components for solar systems, enhancing the country’s clean energy infrastructure.
In response, Gari Li of Royal Meditech Equipments highlighted their extensive work in hospital building, equipping, and renovation across Nigeria. “We are working with over 700 hospitals, including federal hospitals, teaching hospitals, federal medical centers, and specialist hospitals. We also collaborate with various ministries for solar projects. We aim to improve health delivery in Nigeria and bring more power through clean energy solar products,” Li stated.
