Nigeria has finally started making its own insecticide-treated mosquito nets locally, a big step towards reducing deaths from malaria and cutting down on imports. This new factory, Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, is a first for the country because it's built to produce dual-active ingredient nets, which are crucial for fighting mosquitoes that have become resistant to older insecticides.
The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the launch, explaining that the facility is owned by Vestergaard Sarl. They'll be making a specific type of net called “PermaNet® Dual,” which the World Health Organisation (WHO) has already approved. This net is specially designed to handle the growing problem of insecticide resistance, a major headache for malaria prevention efforts worldwide.
Nigeria carries a huge load when it comes to malaria. Globally, the WHO reported 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths in 2024. Most of this happened in Africa, which saw about 95 per cent of the cases and deaths. And out of all the African countries, Nigeria stood out, accounting for a massive 31.9 per cent of all malaria deaths in the region in 2024. These nets are considered one of the best ways to stop people from getting bitten by the Anopheles mosquitoes that spread the disease.
At full speed, this new factory is expected to churn out around 10 million nets every year. That's a lot of nets! It's also set to create over 600 jobs, which is good news for employment. The facility is part of a broader plan, the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which aims to boost local manufacturing of essential health products. Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, said this investment shows what can happen when government policy, private companies, and technology transfer all come together to strengthen Nigeria’s own healthcare industry.
This isn't something that just popped up overnight. The factory’s establishment follows a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024 between Vestergaard and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). The goal was clear: build up Nigeria's ability to make critical health items right here at home. Already, about 80 Nigerians have been hired and are getting trained in everything from manufacturing quality to safety rules.
Amar Ali, the CEO of Vestergaard, expressed his company’s excitement about starting production in Nigeria and thanked the government for its backing. He mentioned that the factory will blend Vestergaard’s manufacturing know-how with the skills of Nigerian workers to produce these advanced nets locally. The ministry expects the first batch of nets to be ready for delivery in the coming months. This domestic production is a significant boost for Nigeria's health system, making it more self-reliant and better equipped to fight malaria.