WorldStage— Indonesian pharmaceutical giant Dexa Group has announced plans to establish a multi-million dollar pharmaceutical manufacturing factory in Ilupeju, Lagos.
The strategic expansion is projected to generate at least 300 direct jobs for Nigerians by the time the facility becomes fully operational in 2028.
Speaking on the development, Benny Sutisna Suwarno, Director of PT Fonko International Pharmaceuticals (a member of Dexa Group), revealed that the facility is entering its final development phases.
“Previously, we sent the product from the Indonesian factory to Nigeria. But right now, we are building a new factory in Nigeria,” Suwarno stated during a media briefing and diplomatic visit.
The upcoming factory, which is already 80 per cent completed, represents a major shift from direct importation to domestic manufacturing.
Developed in partnership with Nigeria’s Orange Group under a joint venture known as Orange Dexa Pharmaceuticals, the plant will initially focus on the local production of Boska, Dexa Group’s flagship pain-relief medication.
Boska has been distributed and trusted in the Nigerian market for over three decades.
The next steps for the company involve installing specialized production machinery, validating manufacturing processes, and securing the necessary regulatory approvals from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
The investment promises significant economic relief and localization benefits.
Suwarno emphasized that the workforce will be overwhelmingly indigenous, stating, “Perhaps just only one or two Indonesians will manage the factory. But the rest, 200 more, will be Nigerian.”
The facility currently manufactures approximately 800 million Boska tablets annually in Indonesia for export to Nigeria; localizing this massive volume is expected to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals and conserve foreign exchange.
Industry stakeholders have lauded the development as a vote of confidence in Nigeria’s macroeconomic potential.
Technical partners such as Bloom Public Health are already providing oversight to ensure the plant aligns with international quality standards, facilitating critical technology transfer to the local ecosystem.
Despite recent departures of some Western pharmaceutical firms, Dexa Group’s decision to deepen its roots demonstrates a long-term commitment to West Africa’s largest market.
By utilizing local resources and creating sustainable industrial employment, the Ilupeju facility is poised to become a vital pillar in securing Nigeria’s domestic healthcare delivery and pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.
