Nigeria plans to establish local veterinary drug manufacturing.

By Cynthia Alo

Nigeria may soon start producing veterinary hormonal drugs domestically after Chromedix Pharmaceuticals Limited presented a proposal to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development (FMLD) to establish the nation’s first such manufacturing plant.

The proposal follows a five‑month‑old warning from the ministry about the ongoing spread of substandard and falsified veterinary medicines.

The minister attributed the problem to local manufacturing and distribution networks that enable inferior products to reach the market, leading livestock farmers to unknowingly buy substandard drugs.

A statement said the proposal was presented during a formal meeting with Minister of Livestock Development Alhaji Idi Maiha in Abuja.

Dr. Dennis Brownie, team lead of the company, explained to the minister that the new plant would cut Nigeria’s dependence on imported veterinary drugs and serve as the cornerstone of a broader goal: creating the first hormonal pharmaceutical manufacturing platform in Sub‑Saharan Africa that caters to both human and veterinary markets.

A key element of the plan is a strategic partnership with global life‑sciences leader Bayer, which Chromedix said would transfer technology and supply the technical know‑how needed to establish hormonal manufacturing in Nigeria.

“The collaboration will strengthen local capacity, promote international best practices, and accelerate the development of a world‑class pharmaceutical manufacturing ecosystem in the country,” Brownie stated.

He added that the project aligns with the federal government’s wider economic goals—boosting livestock productivity, enhancing food security, creating skilled jobs, and ultimately positioning Nigeria as a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.

The minister welcomed the team, noting that the proposal fits within the administration’s livestock transformation agenda and endorsing public‑private partnership as the means to develop the industrial capacity Nigeria requires.

He said, “This initiative will contribute significantly to socio‑economic development by improving access to quality veterinary healthcare products and reducing dependence on imports,” adding that the ministry remains committed to backing credible partnerships that can accelerate sector growth.