The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Olufemi Ogunyemi, has said the newly approved Harvestfield Free Trade Zone will significantly reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medical products and strengthen local manufacturing in the health sector.
Ogunyemi made this observation in Abuja while presenting the Declaration of Licence and Operation Licence to the promoters of the specialised medical free zone, describing the initiative as a major step towards transforming the country into an export-orientated economy.
A statement issued on Tuesday by NEPZA’s Head of Corporate Communications, Martins Odeh, noted the zone was designed to support healthcare manufacturing, boost investment, and improve access to essential medical supplies.
Speaking at the event, Ogunyemi urged investors in the health sector to leverage the country’s free trade zones to expand local production and reduce the nation’s heavy reliance on imported medical products.
He said: “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. The Authority consistently supports trade and investment facilitation that drives economic growth and strengthens the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to transform the country into an export-orientated nation.”
The NEPZA boss explained that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s broader industrialisation and healthcare value chain development strategy, which seeks to improve domestic capacity, reduce foreign exchange pressure, and create jobs.
Also speaking, the Presidential and Federal Ministry of Health representative, Abdu Mukhtar, said the Harvestfield FTZ emerged from the Presidential Executive Order on local manufacturing of healthcare products signed in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu.
Mukthar, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains, said the project represents a deliberate effort to reposition Nigeria as a major producer of health commodities.
He disclosed that Danish multinational, Vestergaard, in partnership with Nigerian business group Harvestfield, through a joint venture known as SNG Health, would utilise the zone to manufacture insecticide-treated nets locally.
He said: “The world’s largest insecticide net manufacturer, Vestergaard, in partnership with Harvestfield, has committed $30 m to establish this facility, with additional investment expected from smaller partners. The facility will produce 10 million dual-insecticide nets annually and create about 600 jobs in Ogun State.
“The new facility is expected to commence production by April 2026 and will meet about 30 per cent of Nigeria’s insecticide net demand in the first phase. Currently, Nigeria accounts for about 27 per cent of the global malaria burden and 30 per cent of all malaria-related deaths each year. This project will not only reduce imports but also strengthen our response to malaria.”
He added that the initiative would enhance technology transfer, deepen local value chains, and position Nigeria as a regional hub for healthcare manufacturing.
Mukthar further noted that the project underscores the government’s commitment to attracting global manufacturers to Nigeria while building local industrial capacity.
“This is not just about import substitution. It is about building a sustainable ecosystem that creates jobs, supports research and innovation, and improves healthcare outcomes. We are moving from dependency to productivity,” he said.
Nigeria spends billions of naira annually importing medical consumables, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare equipment due to limited domestic manufacturing capacity.
Practitioners have repeatedly warned that the situation exposes the country to supply chain shocks, especially during global health emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Federal Government has in recent years intensified efforts to localise healthcare production through policy reforms, incentives, and partnerships with international investors. This includes the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains, which targets increased domestic production of vaccines, drugs, diagnostics, and medical devices.
Free trade zones have also emerged as a major industrial policy tool, offering tax incentives, infrastructure support, and regulatory flexibility to attract foreign and domestic investors.
Experts believe that specialised zones such as Harvestfield FTZ could reduce import bills, conserve foreign exchange, create jobs, and boost non-oil exports in line with Nigeria’s economic diversification agenda.
The development also aligns with broader efforts to deepen manufacturing under the African Continental Free Trade Area, positioning Nigeria to serve both local and regional healthcare markets.
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