News
Naira Forecasted to Depreciate to N1,993/USD by 2028, Threatening Nigeria’s Medical Device Market
The Naira is projected to depreciate to N1,993 per US dollar by 2028, according to a new report by BMI Research, a subsidiary of Fitch Solutions.
This forecast highlights the growing challenges Nigeria faces in importing critical medical supplies due to the weakening of its currency and ongoing structural issues within the healthcare system.
The report, titled “Weak Naira and Structural Challenges to Constrain Nigeria’s Medical Devices Market Growth”, indicates that the Naira’s depreciation will significantly affect Nigeria’s medical device sector.
With over 95% of medical devices in the country imported, the weakened Naira will increase import costs and erode the purchasing power of both healthcare providers and patients, especially in a public health sector that is already underfunded.
BMI’s projection sees the Naira falling from its current value of about N1,700 to N1,993 by 2028. Although this marks a relatively modest depreciation, the report suggests that the weakening currency will continue to drive up the cost of medical devices, particularly high-cost products like diagnostics, orthopaedics, and dental equipment.
While the depreciation poses a serious challenge to the medical sector, there is some optimism for local manufacturers. A weaker Naira could make domestically produced medical devices more competitive, potentially stimulating growth in that segment.
Despite the forecasted depreciation, the report predicts a gradual economic rebound, though the medical device market will continue to face operational and demand constraints in the short term.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid tribute to late Nigerian actor Olu Jacobs, recalling his contributions to the creative industry and his impact on Nigeria’s cultural identity.
In his tribute, Tinubu described Jacobs as a giant of the Nigerian creative industry and said “He was a giant of the Nigerian creative industry. His passing is a great loss to Nigeria, the African film industry and the global community of lovers of the performing arts. His remarkable body of work will continue to speak to generations yet unborn.
“The nation recognises the enormous contributions of Nigeria’s creative practitioners to the country’s cultural identity, global image and economic development. Olu Jacobs played a big role in creating this identity.”
Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency over the proliferation of counterfeit and substandard drugs and consumer products in Nigeria.
Adeyanju also called for the removal of the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, as well as the heads of other regulatory agencies, including the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON).
“Nigerians are being exposed to dangerous products daily, from fake and substandard medicines to unsafe consumer goods, with reports of drugs being sold wholesale in the open under the hot sun. No responsible government should expose its citizens to such risks and expect mortality rates not to rise.”
Adeyanju also called out NAFDAC over what he described as failures in regulating the circulation of counterfeit and substandard products in the country.
It can be noted that various counterfeit products continue to circulate in Nigerian markets, while NAFDAC has also reported seizures and destruction of counterfeit, expired and substandard products.
Lagosians have lamented heavy traffic caused by ongoing construction work at Kara Bridge along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The Federal Government announced that repairs on the damaged expansion joints at Kara Bridge would begin on September 8, 2026. The project, initially scheduled to begin in August, was delayed to allow further traffic management planning due to concerns over its impact on motorists.
Since work began, traffic around the Kara area has become heavy, with Lagosians sharing updates on social media about spending two hours or more on the road.
Some commuters say the delays have made their 9-to-5 routines difficult, with several hours spent travelling to and from work.
“You Have to Vote Right” — Timaya Speaks on Nigeria’s Political Future
Rema Names His Favourite Streamers for Entertainment, Fans React
