Sam Pharmaceutical Limited has commissioned a new manufacturing facility in southwestern Nigeria as part of efforts to expand local drug production and reduce dependence on imported medicines.
The plant, located in Ota, Ogun State, was built to meet World Health Organisation (WHO) Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards and was financed with support from First City Monument Bank (FCMB) and the Bank of Industry (BoI).
According to the company, the facility is capable of producing over 400 million tablets, 50 million capsules, two million bottles of syrup, and one million pouches monthly.
Nigeria has been working to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing following supply chain disruptions experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in its import-dependent system.
Speaking at the commissioning on April 8, Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, said the project aligns with government efforts to boost local production of medicines and reduce import reliance.
Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said the facility would contribute to job creation, economic activity, and improved access to essential drugs in the state.
The Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Mojisola Adeyeye, described the plant as evidence of improved compliance with global pharmaceutical standards in Nigeria.
First City Monument Bank Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Yemisi Edun, said the bank provided a ₦3 billion term loan in partnership with the Bank of Industry, alongside over ₦3.2 billion in working capital to support the project.
She added that the financing reflects the bank’s commitment to supporting local manufacturing and strengthening key sectors of the economy.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sam Pharmaceutical Limited, Amit Bhojwani, said the new facility would expand production capacity and strengthen the company’s position in Nigeria’s branded generics market.
Founded in 1971, Sam Pharmaceutical Limited manufactures over 120 NAFDAC-approved medicines and operates facilities in Ilorin, Kwara State, and Ogun State.
