Anambra State, in southeast Nigeria, is set to commission what officials describe as West Africa’s largest pharmaceutical hub by the end of 2025, a landmark project aimed at bolstering the region’s healthcare supply chain and market competitiveness.
The hub will feature state-of-the-art facilities designed to enforce strict quality control standards, curb counterfeit drugs, and penalise adulteration, according to Christian Udechukwu, Anambra’s Commissioner for Industry.
Udechukwu positioned the initiative as a strategic play to strengthen Nigeria’s foothold in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), a single market estimated at $28.56 billion and forecast to expand to $63 billion by 2030.
Udechukwu made the remarks during a meeting with a delegation led by Sir Elvis Emecheta, founder of Zevis Pharmaceuticals, alongside representatives of its Chinese technical partner, Bestreat Company. The delegation visited the commissioner’s office in Awka to unveil their new First Aid Premium Kit and explore investment opportunities in Anambra’s growing healthcare sector.
Underscoring the state’s momentum, Udechukwu noted that Anambra recently secured a $1.2 million award for excellence in primary healthcare delivery, further reinforcing its credentials as an emerging health investment hub.
The planned pharmaceutical complex forms part of a wider 5,460-hectare industrial city project, which will also feature specialised clusters for automotive manufacturing, technology, agro-processing, and financial services. State officials say this integrated approach is intended to create an ecosystem of industries that can drive export growth, job creation, and long-term economic resilience.
“We are positioning to be the preferred destination for investments from China,” Udechukwu said, pointing to a growing community of Chinese investors in the state. He assured that the industrial city would enjoy free trade zone status and receive full government support.
The commissioner emphasised the economic imperative of the project, citing Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market, which is estimated at $1.84 billion and expected to grow to $2.51 billion by 2030.
Echoing the sentiment, Commissioner for Information Dr. Law Mefor emphasised that Anambra is developing into a destination of choice not just for Nigerians, but also for international businesses. “Everything is being put in place to ensure it is actualised,” Mefor stated.
Mr. Jonny Sui, the Chinese representative from Bestreat, expressed optimism and enthusiasm for collaborating with the state government to explore and develop the Nigerian market.