Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has pledged his administration’s full support to Egyptian pharmaceutical company, Utopia, as it plans to establish a drug manufacturing plant in the state.
The governor gave the assurance on Tuesday while receiving a delegation from the Egypt-based firm at the Government House in Umuahia. The delegation was led by the Chairman of Utopia, Dr. Kamel Mohamed, alongside Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere, who facilitated the proposed investment.
Speaking during the meeting, Otti said the proposed factory aligns with his administration’s vision of attracting investments that stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and boost industrial development.
According to the governor, the state is particularly pleased that Utopia intends to establish a production facility rather than merely market its products in Nigeria.
“We are very happy with your presentation. It is important to generate economic activities through production because when you set up a manufacturing plant, you create jobs, improve the state’s GDP, reduce poverty, and encourage technology transfer,” Otti said.
He assured the investors of government support, including the provision of land for the project, and encouraged them to consider the Ukwa or Osisioma axis for the facility due to the availability of natural gas and stable electricity supplied by Geometric Power.
Governor Otti also directed the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, to work closely with the company to ensure all necessary support is provided for the successful implementation of the project.
Earlier, Eze Apostle Gift Chibuzor Chinyere said he invited the company to Abia because of Governor Otti’s commitment to improving the healthcare sector. He also disclosed that the company would conduct a pilot presentation of its anti-malaria products in the state.
Chairman of Utopia, Dr. Kamel Mohamed, said the company aims to collaborate with the Abia State Government to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing hub that would serve Nigeria and the wider West African market.
He noted that Utopia already has experience executing similar pharmaceutical projects in Tanzania and other countries and highlighted an existing Memorandum of Understanding between Egypt and Nigeria’s National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on drug registration.
Mohamed expressed confidence that the partnership with the Abia State Government would position Nigeria as a hub for advanced pharmaceutical technology while adding value to the nation’s healthcare sector.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche; Chief Executive Officer of the Hospitals Management Board, Dr. Odochi Azubuike; Chief Medical Director of the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, and other senior government officials.