The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has officially presented the Declaration and Operation Licences to Harvestfield Industries, a newly approved Free Trade Zone (FTZ) dedicated to the production of medical products. The move is expected to significantly reduce the country’s reliance on imported medical supplies.
Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, NEPZA’s Managing Director and CEO, stated that medical investors should take advantage of Nigeria’s free zones to scale up local production. “Harvestfield FTZ is strategic and focused on addressing key deficits in the health sector. This opens up a new opportunity for the country to become an exporter of health products,” he said.
Dr. Ogunyemi also emphasized NEPZA’s commitment to supporting trade and investment initiatives that promote economic growth and advance the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at transforming Nigeria into an export-oriented economy.
Dr. Abdu Mukthar, representing the Presidency and the Ministry of Health, explained that Harvestfield FTZ emerged from the Presidential Executive Order on Local Manufacturing of Healthcare Products signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in 2024.
The facility, a joint venture between Danish conglomerate Vestergaard and Nigerian business group Harvestfield under SNG Health, will manufacture 10 million dual-insecticide nets annually, creating an estimated 600 jobs in Ogun State. The firms have invested $30 million, with additional financial contributions from smaller partners.
“The new facility is expected to start production in April 2026 and will supply 30% of Nigeria’s insecticide net demand during the first phase. Currently, Nigeria accounts for 27% of the global malaria burden and 30% of all malaria deaths each year,” Mukthar added.
The initiative is poised to strengthen local healthcare manufacturing, create jobs, and reduce dependency on imports, marking a significant step in Nigeria’s healthcare and economic development strategy.
