Nigeria may soon begin producing veterinary hormonal medicines locally following a proposal by Chromedix Pharmaceuticals Limited to establish the country’s first manufacturing facility dedicated to such products. The Veterinary Drug Manufacturing initiative was presented to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as part of efforts to strengthen local pharmaceutical production and improve livestock healthcare. The proposal was presented during a formal meeting with the Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Maiha, in Abuja.
The development comes about five months after the ministry expressed concern over the continued circulation of substandard and falsified veterinary medicines across Nigeria. At the time, the minister warned that weaknesses in local manufacturing and distribution channels had allowed poor-quality products to reach livestock farmers, who often purchase them unknowingly. Leading the presentation, Team Lead of Chromedix Pharmaceuticals, Dr. Dennis Brownie, said the proposed facility would significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported veterinary pharmaceuticals.
According to Brownie, the project also aims to establish the first hormonal pharmaceutical manufacturing platform in Sub-Saharan Africa, serving both veterinary and human healthcare markets. He disclosed that Chromedix plans to partner with global life sciences company Bayer to facilitate technology transfer and provide the technical expertise required to develop hormonal manufacturing capacity within 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 said.
He added that the project aligns with the Federal Government’s broader economic priorities by supporting livestock productivity, improving food security, creating skilled employment opportunities and positioning Nigeria as a regional pharmaceutical manufacturing hub.
Responding to the proposal, Minister Idi Maiha welcomed the initiative, describing it as consistent with the Federal Government’s livestock transformation agenda. He reiterated the ministry’s support for public-private partnerships capable of expanding local industrial capacity and accelerating sectoral development.
“This initiative will contribute significantly to socio-economic development by improving access to quality veterinary healthcare products and reducing dependence on imports,” the minister said. Maiha added that the ministry remains committed to supporting credible partnerships that can drive sustainable growth across the livestock sector.
If implemented, the Veterinary Drug Manufacturing project could strengthen Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, improve access to quality veterinary medicines and reduce reliance on imported products. Industry stakeholders also see the proposal as a potential catalyst for regional pharmaceutical production while supporting the country’s long-term food security and livestock development goals.
