The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to fighting malaria with the launch of Nigeria’s first dual active-ingredient Long-Lasting Insecticidal Net (LLIN) manufacturing plant in Ogun State.
Scheduled for completion in 2026, the facility is set to produce around 10 million LLINs each year, covering approximately 30 percent of the country’s national demand.
The government said the move is imperative as malaria remains a severe public health challenge in Nigeria, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives, mostly children and accounting for a quarter of global cases and deaths.
According to the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), the project is critical in reversing this trend, underscoring its significance in Nigeria’s fight against the disease.
The venture, facilitated by PVAC, is a partnership between Swiss-based Vestergaard Sàrl and Nigeria’s Harvestfield Industries Limited.
Speaking on the project, PVAC National Coordinator Dr Abdu Mukhtar said, “This project marks a transformative step towards strengthening local production of essential commodities.
“The investment will not only reduce reliance on imports but also create an estimated 600 skilled jobs, stimulate industrial growth, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for health product manufacturing.”
He added that malaria remains a major health challenge, “accounting for roughly a quarter of global cases and deaths, mostly among children,” and that the presidential initiative is determined to reverse the trend.
Dr Mukhtar also stated that leaders of the joint venture, heads of relevant agencies, and development partners, including the World Bank, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and the National Malaria Elimination Programme are confident that the new plant will make a significant contribution to reducing, and potentially eradicating, malaria in Nigeria and across Africa.
