KCH appoints Ali Vejlani as managing director to lead Beta Lactam plant project - Businessday NG

adsKCH Group has announced the appointment of Ali Vejlani, an Indian national, as managing director, effective June 1, 2026.

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s pharmaceutical industry, following the recent ban on the importation of the beta-lactam antibiotic range by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The decision by NAFDAC aims to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported antibiotics, curb substandard drug circulation, and strengthen local manufacturing capacity. With Beta Lactam antibiotics, including Penicillins and Cephalosporins, forming the backbone of infection treatment in hospitals and clinics, the ban has created both urgency and opportunity for local producers.

In response, the Board of Directors of KCH Group has mandated Vejlani to lead the company’s strategic expansion, with a primary focus on attracting investors for the development of a world-class Beta Lactam manufacturing plant along the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos. He will also oversee the day-to-day running of existing plant operations, among other responsibilities KCH group will provide full regulatory support and market authorisation for the new facility.