Cross River State is exploring the possibility of strengthening local condom production in Nigeria following an inspection of a manufacturing factory at the Calabar Export Processing Zone (EPZ).
The inspection was carried out by the Cross River State Agency for the Control of AIDS (CR-SACA), the Excellence Community Education Welfare Scheme (ECEWS), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners.
According to the Cross River State Ministry of Information, the team inspected the facilities of Agrim International FZE in Calabar to assess its production capacity and discuss how local manufacturing could help improve the availability of condoms and other reproductive health products in Nigeria.
The delegation was led by the Director-General of CR-SACA, Dr Charles Iwara, while the company's Chief Executive Officer, Mr Nitin Agarwal, received the team and participated in discussions on manufacturing, product distribution, local sourcing of raw materials and possible partnerships.
The factory produces male condoms and also has production lines for sanitary pads and diaper pants.
Speaking during the visit, a UNFPA representative, Dr Andrews, said the organisation supports the Federal Government and state governments in procuring condoms and other contraceptives.
He explained that the inspection was intended to help the partners understand the company's production capacity and identify areas where cooperation could support local manufacturing.
Dr Andrews noted that increasing Nigeria's ability to manufacture reproductive health products locally could reduce the country's dependence on imported supplies.
He added that discussions were ongoing with relevant national stakeholders and local manufacturers to explore ways of providing the technical, financial and human resources needed to strengthen domestic production while maintaining internationally recognised quality standards.
The UNFPA representative also highlighted the possibility of state governments purchasing reproductive health products from qualified local manufacturers, subject to the required quality standards and procurement procedures.
Such an arrangement could help ensure that products reach government stores and are distributed to health facilities for use by the public.
The discussions also focused on improving access to condoms, particularly among young people and other groups requiring preventive healthcare services, as part of efforts to prevent HIV and support sexual and reproductive health.
The company's Chief Executive Officer, Nitin Agarwal, expressed interest in expanding local manufacturing and exploring opportunities to source natural rubber latex from Nigerian farmers.
He said the company was developing its presence in the Nigerian market and remained open to orders of different quantities as it continued to build its distribution network.
For Cross River State, the proposed collaboration could create opportunities for local manufacturing, support Nigerian businesses and improve the availability of essential reproductive health products.
However, the state government's information ministry noted that further discussions would be required to determine the scope of any partnership and the possible role of locally manufactured products in government procurement and public health programmes.
The inspection is therefore an initial step towards exploring how local manufacturers could contribute to Nigeria's reproductive health needs. It does not, at this stage, amount to a confirmed government agreement to purchase products from the factory.
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