Indonesian pharmaceutical giant, Dexa Group, is set to commence local production of its popular Boska pain-relief tablets in Nigeria in 2028, as part of an expansion drive aimed at strengthening domestic drug manufacturing and reducing dependence on imports.
The company disclosed that construction of its pharmaceutical factory in Ilupeju, Lagos, was already 80 per cent complete, with the facility expected to generate approximately 300 jobs when fully operational.
Director of PT Fonko International Pharmaceuticals, Benny Suwarno, revealed the development on Saturday during a courtesy visit by officials of the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria, where he outlined the group’s operations, research investments and expansion plans.
According to Suwarno, the remaining stages of the project include installing production equipment, validating manufacturing processes and securing registration from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
He explained that Dexa had previously supplied Boska to the Nigerian market from its manufacturing facility in Indonesia but decided to establish local production to bring manufacturing closer to consumers.
Suwarno said the new factory would initially focus on producing Boska tablets, with Nigerians expected to make up the bulk of its workforce. Only one or two Indonesian personnel would be deployed to oversee management of the facility.
The company currently manufactures approximately 800 million Boska tablets annually for the Nigerian market, according to the director.
He noted that the product had maintained a strong presence in Nigeria since its introduction more than three decades ago.
The planned investment is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, create employment opportunities and potentially reduce the country’s reliance on imported medicines.
Suwarno, however, stressed that completing the factory and meeting all regulatory requirements, including NAFDAC approval, remained essential before commercial production could begin in 2028.