Indonesian pharmaceutical company, Dexa Group, has announced plans to expand its operations in Nigeria with the construction of a pharmaceutical manufacturing factory in Lagos, where it intends to begin local production of its popular Boska pain-relief tablets by 2028, in a move aimed at deepening local manufacturing and reducing import dependence.

The disclosure was made on Saturday by the Director of PT Fonko International Pharmaceuticals, Benny Sutisna Suwarno, during a courtesy visit and facility tour with officials of the Indonesian Embassy in Nigeria in Cikarang, Indonesia, where he presented an overview of Dexa Group’s operations, research investments and long-term expansion strategy for the Nigerian market.

According to Suwarno, the new factory is located in Ilupeju, Lagos, and is already 80 per cent complete, with the main building structure ready for the next critical phase of development which will involve the installation of modern production equipment, validation and testing of manufacturing processes, and completion of all regulatory requirements.

He explained that the facility will initially focus on the production of Boska, the company’s flagship pain relief medicine which has been distributed in Nigeria since 1996 and has become one of its leading brands in the country, with about 800 million tablets currently manufactured annually in Indonesia for the Nigerian market alone.

Suwarno noted that previously, all Boska products consumed in Nigeria were shipped directly from the Indonesian factory, but the company has now decided to bring production closer to the consumer by investing in a local plant, a strategic shift that will ensure steady supply, faster market response and support for Nigeria’s drive towards pharmaceutical self-sufficiency.

He added that before commercial production can begin in 2028, the company must complete the installation of machinery, conduct thorough validation of the production processes, and secure the necessary registration and approval from the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, which remains a major consideration for all medicines intended for the Nigerian market.

The company also disclosed that the Lagos factory will create at least 300 direct jobs for Nigerians when operational, and reaffirmed its commitment to the country, stating that as long as Nigeria needs Boska the product will remain available, while plans are underway to introduce about 12 more pharmaceutical products into Nigeria this year subject to regulatory approvals.