Nigeria Begins Making New Malaria Nets Locally in Major Health Boost

(Mosquito Net. Photo by NAtional Acord News)

Nigeria has started locally producing advanced mosquito nets treated with new insecticides to help fight malaria and boost domestic manufacturing of health products.

The Federal Ministry of Health announced the development through a new facility called Health Textiles Nigeria, which is owned by a European company called Vestergaard.

The factory is Nigeria's first to manufacture the latest generation of dual-active ingredient insecticide-treated nets.

The nets produced here, called PermaNet Dual, are designed to tackle the growing problem of mosquitoes becoming resistant to older insecticides.

The World Health Organisation approved them in 2023.

When the facility reaches full capacity, it will produce around 10 million nets every year and create more than 600 jobs.

Already, 80 workers have been hired and are being trained in manufacturing standards, quality control, workplace safety and regulatory requirements.

The Coordinating Minister of Health said the project represents what happens when government policy, private investment and technology come together.

He stressed that local production strengthens Nigeria's ability to make essential health products and builds a more resilient health system.

The agreement between Vestergaard and the government was signed in 2024 as part of a broader initiative to strengthen Nigeria's healthcare manufacturing capacity.

This matters because Nigeria carries a heavy share of the global malaria burden.

The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2024, malaria caused 282 million cases and 610,000 deaths worldwide, with Africa accounting for most of those deaths.

The facility should start fulfilling commercial orders in the coming months, giving Nigeria more control over its malaria prevention supplies.