The South-South Development Commission (SSDC) is exploring a potential collaboration with indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturer Innovative Biotech Limited for the procurement and local manufacturing of vital vaccines, a move aimed at bolstering health security in the region.

The discussions took place during a courtesy visit by the SSDC Managing Director, Usoro Akpabio, to Innovative Biotech’s Abuja office recently.

The meeting focused on the possibility of creating a sustainable supply chain for vaccines targeting preventable diseases prevalent in the coastal South-South region.

“Local content and Nigeria’s firsts policy is here to stay,” declared MD Usoro Akpabio, emphasizing the Commission’s strategic direction. “Our recent engagement with the primary health care development agency drove us to start engaging local manufacturers. Local vaccine production aligns directly with our regional health resilience strategy and Nigeria’s drive for self-sufficiency in essential medical supplies.”

Akpabio highlighted the urgent health needs of the region, stating, “The South-South region faces recurring outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and other preventable diseases due to coastal and environmental conditions. A structured vaccine procurement and distribution plan through SSDC will strengthen preventive healthcare and reduce disease burden across states.”

He also stressed the importance of affordability as a key consideration, noting, “There must be incentives on this action plan to make these vaccines affordable. We can’t be more expensive than the foreign products and suppliers.”

The engagement will explore practical pathways for the SSDC to potentially procure vaccines such as the Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine, Cholera, HPV, and PCV, which are aligned with the region’s specific health challenges. Potential joint capacity-building programs for local health institutions were also discussed.

Dr. Simon Agwale, Chief Executive Officer of Innovative Biotech Limited, hosted the delegation and presented his company’s roadmap for establishing end-to-end vaccine manufacturing capacity in Nigeria.

“We believe this engagement will help align procurement planning with Nigeria’s drive for local production, ensuring reliable, cost-effective, and resilient vaccine supply for the South-South region,” Dr. Agwale stated.

The SSDC’s mandate covers health security, human capital development, and regional industrialization, making the exploration of such local manufacturing engagements a key part of its core objectives.