By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Federal Government has welcomed the commencement of local production of next-generation insecticide-treated mosquito nets in Nigeria, describing the development as a major boost to the country’s malaria control efforts and health security.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the production of dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated nets by Health Textiles Nigeria FZE marked an important milestone in strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare value chain.
Pate said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s drive to build domestic capacity for manufacturing essential health products, create jobs, and reduce vulnerabilities in the supply of critical medical commodities.
“The commencement of local production of next-generation insecticide-treated nets is an important milestone for Nigeria’s health system and our fight against malaria,” he said.
He noted that the partnership between global expertise, Nigerian talent, and local manufacturing would help build a more resilient healthcare system while positioning Nigeria as a manufacturing hub for Africa.
The National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, said the project demonstrated the importance of combining investment, technology transfer, and supportive government policies to develop sustainable local manufacturing.
According to him, the partnership was designed not only to attract investment but also to build productive capacity, transfer skills, and strengthen manufacturing capabilities in Nigeria.
The Chief Executive Officer of Vestergaard, Amar Ali, commended the Federal Government for its support, saying the facility marked a new chapter in malaria-prevention manufacturing in Africa.
Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, wholly owned by Vestergaard Sàrl, is the first facility in Nigeria to manufacture dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets.
The facility will produce PermaNet® Dual, a next-generation mosquito net designed to tackle the growing challenge of insecticide resistance and prequalified by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2023.
At full capacity, the factory is expected to produce about 10 million mosquito nets annually and create more than 600 jobs. About 80 workers have already been recruited and are undergoing training in manufacturing, quality control, occupational health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
The establishment of Health Textiles Nigeria followed a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding between Vestergaard and PVAC to strengthen local production of essential health products.
The development comes amid Nigeria’s heavy malaria burden. WHO estimates show that malaria caused about 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, with the African Region accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases and deaths.
The company is expected to fulfill its first commercial orders in the coming months as Nigeria expands its capacity to locally produce critical malaria prevention commodities.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare said it would continue to support strategic investments, technology transfer, and skills development that strengthen local health manufacturing, while ensuring that locally produced commodities meet international quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
The Federal Government said the initiative was consistent with the Renewed Hope Health Agenda and its broader efforts to build a resilient health system and improve access to essential health products.
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