Indonesian pharmaceutical firm plans Lagos factory for local production

Director of the Pharmaceutical Group, Benny Sutisna Suwarno. Photo: Deborah Musa

Indonesian pharmaceutical company, Dexa Group, has announced plans to expand its operations in Nigeria, with local production of its Boska pain-relief tablets expected to begin in 2028.

The Director of PT Fonko International Pharmaceuticals, Benny Suwarno, disclosed this on Saturday, during a courtesy visit by officials of the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria, where he presented an overview of Dexa Group’s operations, research investments and expansion plans.

The director said the group was establishing a production factory in Ilupeju, Lagos, which was already 80 per cent complete.

He added that the facility was expected to create about 300 jobs and reduce the country’s reliance on imports.

He said the installation of production equipment, validation of manufacturing processes and registration of the product with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control were the remaining steps before operations could commence.

Suwarno said the planned facility formed part of the group’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Nigeria, which it considers a strategic market for its pharmaceutical products and wider African operations.

He explained that Dexa had previously supplied Boska to Nigeria from its Indonesian factory but was now investing in local manufacturing to bring production closer to the market.

“Previously, we sent the product from the Indonesian factory to Nigeria. But right now, we are building a new factory in Nigeria. The factory is in Ilupeju, Lagos, and it is 80 per cent complete,” Suwarno said.

He said the building was ready for the next phase of development, which would involve installing the necessary machinery, testing production processes and completing regulatory requirements ahead of the planned commencement of operations in 2028.

According to him, the facility would initially concentrate on producing Boska, while creating employment opportunities for Nigerians and supporting the country’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity.

Suwarno said the workforce would consist predominantly of Nigerians, with only one or two Indonesian personnel expected to oversee the facility’s management.

Dexa currently manufactures approximately 800 million Boska tablets annually for the Nigerian market, according to Suwarno, who described the product as one of the company’s leading brands in the country.

He said Boska had established a strong presence in Nigeria since its introduction more than three decades ago.

He explained that all medicines intended for the Nigerian market must obtain the necessary registration from NAFDAC before they can be marketed, adding that regulatory requirements remained a major consideration in the company’s expansion plans.