Nigeria Begins Local Production Of Next-Generation Mosquito Nets
Nigeria has launched local production of next-generation dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets, a move aimed at enhancing malaria prevention efforts and bolstering domestic manufacturing of essential health products.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced that the new facility, Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, is the nation’s first to manufacture dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated nets. The facility, owned by Vestergaard Sàrl, will produce PermaNet® Dual, a mosquito net specifically designed to tackle the growing issue of insecticide resistance. The product has received prequalification by the World Health Organization in 2023.
Once fully operational, the facility is projected to manufacture approximately 10 million nets annually, creating over 600 jobs. Currently, about 80 employees have been hired and are undergoing training in areas such as manufacturing excellence, product quality, occupational health and safety, and regulatory compliance.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate highlighted that this development aligns with the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which focuses on enhancing investment, local production, and domestic capacity within the healthcare sector.
“This investment showcases what can be achieved when government policy, private-sector investment, and technology transfer converge to enhance Nigeria’s healthcare value chain,” Pate noted. He emphasized that local production would strengthen the country’s capability to manufacture essential health products, supporting a more resilient health system.
Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain, stated that the new facility reflects how investment, technology transfer, and government policies can lead to increased productive capacity and skills development. He further indicated that the training initiative for Nigerian professionals and the commencement of production exemplify the objectives of the program, which aims to replicate such successes across various segments of the healthcare value chain.
Amar Ali, CEO of Vestergaard, expressed the company’s satisfaction in beginning production in Nigeria. He noted that the facility merges the company’s manufacturing expertise with the skills of Nigerian workers to produce dual-active insecticide-treated nets locally.
The establishment of Health Textiles Nigeria was facilitated by a Memorandum of Understanding between Vestergaard and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain in 2024, aimed at enhancing local production capabilities for vital health products.
This initiative arises against the backdrop of Nigeria’s significant share of the global malaria burden. According to the World Health Organization, malaria accounted for 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide in 2024, with the African region representing the majority of those cases and fatalities.
Health Textiles Nigeria is expected to fulfill its first commercial orders in the coming months, thereby further expanding the country’s capacity to locally produce this critical malaria prevention commodity. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare indicated that domestic production will be underpinned by rigorous quality assurance, regulatory oversight, and safety standards, as the government continues to promote strategic investments and skills development within the healthcare value chain.
