He warned that the country was yet to attain the level of free trade and open border policy as being practised by the West.
According to him, “A lot of industries in Nigeria would need to be protected, chief of which is the manufacturing pharmaceutical industry. If you do not protect this industry, we stand the chance of exposing our people to the vagaries of international politics, when there are pandemics, epidemics or shortages of even API’s around the world.
“No country would export products simply to make money, when they have a need for those products in their own country amongst their people. And so, it is incumbent on policymakers to protect most of our industries that are today at risk.”All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.