Once acclaimed as the largest syringe manufacturing company in Africa, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing has officially shut down operations at its Awa factory, which is situated in the Onna Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

The company, inaugurated in 2017 by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, cited “unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations” as the reason for its departure from Nigeria.

Owned by Turkish national Onur Kumral, Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Limited was among the industries attracted to Akwa Ibom State under the administration of Governor Udom Emmanuel.

A memo announcing the closure, titled “Temporary Redundancy – Service Not Needed Till Further Notice,” was addressed to the company’s workforce and signed by Managing Director Akin Oyediran. The memo stated that the decision was made “to implement temporary measures to ensure the long-term sustainability of the company.”

The announcement revealed the company’s cessation of production several months ago, with operations officially ending on December 31, 2022. It emphasized that the temporary redundancy, effective January 1, 2024, was not a reflection of the individual performance or dedication of the employees but a response to the challenging business environment.

The memo read, “We trust this message finds you in good health. With a heavy heart, we write to you today to communicate a challenging decision that Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing Company Limited has had to make due to unforeseen circumstances affecting our business operations.”

“Unfortunately, this includes placing all positions, including yours, on temporary redundancy. We want to emphasize that this decision is not a reflection of your performance or dedication to the company. The challenging business environment we find ourselves in has compelled us to take these difficult steps. Please return all company belongings in your custody. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during these challenging times.”

The closure of Jubilee Syringe Manufacturing comes over two years after announcing plans to export its products to Germany and less than a year after securing a credit facility of $1 million.