Abstract

Mukhtar, M. D.*, Oyeyi T. I. and Ameh, J. B.

Pharmaceutical Companies concerned with the manufacture and trading of the commonest varieties of Oral antimicrobial suspensions in Nigeria were identified. This was prompted by an effort to provide a clue to the current Pharmaceutical Industrial growth of the country. This was achieved through a survey conducted to identify the number, distribution location as well as the product of the industries with the aid of questionnaires distributed to manufacturers (Pharmacists and Sales representatives) . Presence of the products was assessed through consultation with whole sales and patent medicine dealers in Kano market one of the main drug distribution foci in Nigeria drug market. A total of 62 functional factories, unevenly distributed in ten states of the federation were identified. There were 26 (41.93%) in Lagos, 12 (19. 35%) in Kano five (8.06%) in Enugu. Imo, Kwara and Ogun States had four (6.45%) each. There were three (4.83) in Oyo, Anambra had two (3.23%) but Osun and Niger State haboured one (1.61%) in each case. The industries formulated one or more among Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Ampiclox, augmentin, Cloxacillin, Choramphenicol, Co-trimazole, Chloroquine erythromycin and metronidazole suspensions presented in various trade names. The study confirmed the proliferation of local Pharmaceutical manufacturing companies capable of producing one or more first choice antimicrobial suspension for use in chemotherapy. This seems as a mark of industrial progress in Nigeria today.