Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA), has said that Harvestfield Industries, a newly approved Free Trade Zone specialising in medical products, will significantly reduce the importation of medical products. This was contained in a statement signed by Martins Odeh, Ph.D, Head, Corporate Communications, NEPZA.
Dr. Ogunyemi, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, made the remark while presenting both the Declaration of Licence and the Operation Licence to the facilitators of the zone in Abuja.
The NEPZA managing director further explained that medical investors should leverage the country’s free zones to boost the local production of medical products and supplies.
“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,’’ Dr. Ogunyemi said.
He further explained that: “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-oriented nation.’’
Dr. Abdu Mukthar, the Presidential and MOH Representative, said that Harvestfield FTZ was an offshoot of the Presidential Executive Order on Local Manufacturing of Healthcare Products signed in 2024 by H.E. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
He explained that the world’s largest insecticide net manufacturer, Danish conglomerate Vestergaard, in partnership with Nigerian business group Harvestfield, through the joint venture SNG Health, will use the zone to produce 10 million dual-insecticide nets annually, creating an estimated 600 jobs in Ogun State.
Mukthar, also the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC), explained that the two firms had invested $30 million to establish the facility, with additional financial commitments 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,’’ Murkthar said.
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