New facility is expected to produce 10 million insecticide-treated nets annually and create more than 600 jobs as Nigeria moves to strengthen malaria prevention and local healthcare manufacturing.

Nigeria has commenced the local production of next-generation dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets as the Federal Government steps up efforts to combat malaria and strengthen domestic manufacturing of essential health commodities.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the development, stating that Health Textiles Nigeria FZE, wholly owned by Vestergaard Sàrl, has become the first facility in Nigeria to manufacture dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated mosquito nets.

The facility will produce PermaNet Dual, an advanced mosquito net designed to help address the growing challenge of insecticide resistance. The product was prequalified by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2023.

At full production capacity, the facility is expected to manufacture approximately 10 million mosquito nets annually and create more than 600 jobs. The ministry said 80 employees have already been recruited and are undergoing specialised training.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the investment aligns with the Federal Government's Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and represents an important step towards increasing Nigeria's capacity to manufacture essential health products locally.

Pate said the project demonstrates how government policy, private-sector investment and technology transfer can work together to strengthen Nigeria's healthcare value chain.

The establishment of Health Textiles Nigeria followed a 2024 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vestergaard and the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain.

The development comes as Nigeria continues to bear a significant share of the global malaria burden.

According to the WHO, malaria caused an estimated 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths globally in 2024, with the African region accounting for the overwhelming majority of cases and deaths.

The introduction of locally manufactured dual-active mosquito nets is expected to support Nigeria's malaria-control efforts while reducing reliance on imported health commodities and creating opportunities for skills development and employment.

The Federal Ministry of Health said Health Textiles Nigeria is expected to fulfil its first commercial orders in the coming months.