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Nigeria’s push for pharmaceutical independence gained fresh momentum as Sam Pharmaceutical Limited unveiled a World Health Organisation-compliant manufacturing hub in Ota, Ogun State.
The investment is designed to tilt the balance from imports to local production.
Financed by First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the Bank of Industry (BoI), the facility delivers industrial-scale output: more than 400 million tablets, 50 million capsules, two million bottles of syrup, and one million pouches monthly. Built to World Health Organisation Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards, it raises the bar for quality and capacity in the domestic market.
The timing is strategic as COVID-19 disruptions exposed the risks of Nigeria’s import dependence, triggering a policy pivot toward self-sufficiency in essential medicines.
Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, said the project fits directly into that agenda. “The project aligns with the government’s drive to expand local pharmaceutical production and reduce reliance on imports,” he said.
For Ogun State, the benefits extend beyond health.
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Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele said the plant will “support job creation and economic activity while improving access to essential medicines.”
Regulatory backing remains critical and NAFDAC Director General, Mojisola Adeyeye, described the development as “a reflection of growing compliance with global standards in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector.”
The financing structure highlighted rising confidence in local manufacturing.
FCMB’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yemisi Edun, revealed a N3 billion term loan arranged with BoI, complemented by over N3.2 billion in working capital, funding she said demonstrates a commitment to “supporting local manufacturing and strengthening critical sectors of the economy.”
Sam Pharmaceuticals Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amit Bhojwani, said the plant will “scale production and position the company more strongly in Nigeria’s branded generics market.”
With over 120 NAFDAC-approved products and operations across Ilorin and Ogun, the company is expanding its footprint, just as Nigeria intensifies efforts to secure its medicine supply chain at home.
