Nigerians could soon pay more for prescription medications following a move by U.S. President Donald Trump to slash drug prices in the United States.
In a late-night post on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that he would sign an executive order aimed at reducing the cost of pharmaceuticals in the U.S. by 30 to 80 percent. The order, which he said would take effect Monday morning, is part of what he described as a “Most Favored Nation” policy.
Under the new policy, the United States would pay the same prices for drugs as the lowest-paying country globally, a shift Trump said would correct years of what he called unfair overpricing for Americans.
“Prices will rise throughout the world in order to equalize and, for the first time in many years, bring FAIRNESS TO AMERICA,” he wrote.
Trump argued that high drug costs in the U.S. have long been justified by pharmaceutical companies as necessary to recoup research and development expenses. However, he believes this has led to inflated prices for American consumers.
He claimed the policy shift would not only lower healthcare costs for Americans but also save the country “trillions of dollars.” He linked the move to his broader “Make America Great Again” agenda, promising historic reductions in healthcare spending.
The ripple effect of this policy could mean higher prices for countries like Nigeria, where pharmaceutical imports especially from the U.S. play a significant role in the drug supply chain.
