A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Osun, Mr Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has asked President Bola Tinubu, to immediately wade into the hike in prices of essential drugs in the country.
Oyintiloye made the appeal while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, saying that many Nigerians currently cannot afford most essential drugs due to the hike in prices.
According to him, the escalating prices of the drugs could be attributed to a combination of factors, which include the high rate of inflation in devaluation of Naira, amongst others.
The APC chieftain said the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that the value of medicines imported into Nigeria rose by 68 per cent to N81.8 billion between July and September.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, said that the surge in the prices of drugs had placed a significant financial strain on individuals and families already struggling with the harsh economy.
“When the local currency weakens against foreign currencies, the expenses incurred in procuring these essential medical supplies rise, consequently driving up the overall prices of medicines in the country,” he said.
