Indonesian pharmaceutical company, Dexa Group, has said its planned pharmaceutical manufacturing factory in Lagos will create employment opportunities for Nigerians, with the company targeting at least 300 jobs when the facility begins operations in 2028.
Speaking to journalists during a tour of its manufacturing facilities in Cikarang, Indonesia, the Director of PT Fonko International Pharmaceuticals, Benny Sutisna Suwarno, said the company was committed to expanding its operations in Nigeria and strengthening local pharmaceutical production.
Suwarno said the factory, located in Ilupeju, Lagos, was about 80 per cent completed, with the company already preparing to install production machinery and commence the necessary testing and regulatory processes.
He said the facility would initially focus on producing Boska, the company’s pain relief medicine, which has been distributed in Nigeria for more than three decades.
According to him, the factory is expected to begin operations in 2028 after the installation of equipment, validation of production processes and registration of the products with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He said, “We are going to employ Nigerians in the factory. We are going to have at least 300 people in the factory.
“Later on, when the factory starts operation, in some position, of course, cannot be occupied by Indonesians. Perhaps just only one or two Indonesians will manage the factory. But the rest, 200 more, will be Nigerian.”
He said the investment would contribute to employment generation, particularly in Lagos, while supporting Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.
The director described Nigeria as an important market for the company, noting that Dexa Group had maintained its presence in the country despite economic challenges and the difficulties associated with doing business.
He said the company had no plans to withdraw its products from Nigeria, adding that its continued investment in the country demonstrated its commitment to providing medicines for Nigerians.
Describing the company’s long-standing commitment to Nigeria, Suwarno said Dexa Group had remained in the country despite economic challenges and continued to supply its products.
“We have never pulled out of Nigeria. We have stayed and continued to supply high-quality products. Our commitment is not just verbal; it is demonstrated through action. As long as Nigeria needs Boska, the product will remain available, and we are committed to introducing more products to improve healthcare in the country,” he said.
He disclosed that Boska had become one of the company’s leading products in Nigeria, with about 800 million tablets produced annually for the market.
According to him, the product had gained significant acceptance among Nigerian consumers over the past five years, emerging as a leading brand in the country’s pain relief market.
He said the company was also working to introduce more pharmaceutical products into Nigeria, with about 12 products expected to be introduced this year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Suwarno, however, identified the product registration process as one of the challenges facing pharmaceutical companies seeking to introduce new medicines into Nigeria.
He explained that NAFDAC operated specific registration windows, limiting the number of product applications companies could submit within certain periods.
He said the company was prepared to comply with Nigeria’s regulatory requirements, particularly the government’s policy of encouraging local manufacturing.
Another concern, according to him, was the circulation of fake and substandard medicines, which he said could undermine the efforts of legitimate pharmaceutical manufacturers investing in the country.
He called for stronger enforcement measures to prevent counterfeit medicines from entering the Nigerian market, noting that maintaining product quality was essential to protecting consumers.
On measures to protect its products, he said the company had introduced a unique hologram on Boska packaging to help consumers distinguish genuine products from counterfeits.
“We have a hologram inside. And the hologram is unique, very unique. This one belongs to us. Nobody can have that kind of hologram,” he said.
The director also highlighted the company’s interest in expanding access to herbal medicines, explaining that its research activities included exploring Indonesia’s biodiversity for medicinal ingredients.
He said the company invested five per cent of its revenue in research and development, with the aim of developing medicines from locally available natural resources.
According to him, some of the company’s herbal products had undergone preclinical and clinical studies, while others were being introduced into international markets.
He said the company was also exploring opportunities to expand its product portfolio in Nigeria, particularly in areas where Indonesian and Nigerian health needs were similar.
Suwarno noted that Nigeria’s population and economic potential made it an important destination for pharmaceutical investment, adding that the company hoped to deepen its contribution to the country’s healthcare sector.
He said Dexa Group would continue to work with Nigerian distributors and regulatory authorities to strengthen its presence and improve access to quality medicines.
