The Nigerian government on Monday endorsed a joint venture between Vestergaard Sàrl and Harvestfield Industries Limited, marking the groundbreaking of a mosquito net manufacturing facility in Ogun State. The plant is the first of its kind in Nigeria and aims to strengthen health security while reducing reliance on imported nets.

The venture, SNG Health, will produce PermaNet Dual, Vestergaard’s dual active-ingredient pyrethroid–chlorfenapyr mosquito net, designed to tackle growing insecticide resistance. Production is scheduled to begin in April 2026, with an annual capacity of 10 million nets and the creation of 600 skilled jobs.

The groundbreaking ceremony took place at the site in Ogun State, with contributions from the National Coordinator of the President’s Value Chain Initiative, Dr Abdu Mukhtar; the Director of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Godwin Ntadom; the Director and National Coordinator of the National Malaria Elimination Programme, Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor; the Consul General of Switzerland in Lagos, Ms Cornelia Camenzind; and the World Bank Nigeria Task Team Leader, Mr Onoriode Ezire.

PVAC National Coordinator Dr Abdu Mukhtar said Nigeria is ready to lead the next frontier of malaria control in West Africa.

He explained that every mosquito net produced represents “a Nigerian job, a Nigerian skill strengthened, and value created within our economy.” Mukhtar added that the partnership between Vestergaard and Harvestfield shows what responsible, future-focused collaboration looks like. According to him, the facility will ensure that lifesaving tools like PermaNet Dual are manufactured at scale, to global standards, with long-term sustainability built in.

Nigeria shoulders the world’s highest malaria burden, accounting for a quarter of all global cases. Tragically, two out of every five children lost to malaria are Nigerian. While these are daunting statistics, new evidence from the Malaria Atlas Project shows insecticide-treated nets have been instrumental in the fight against malaria, responsible for 72 per cent of all malaria cases prevented globally between 2000 and 2024. Notably, dual active-ingredient nets, including PermaNet Dual, have alone stopped 40 million cases from 2019 to 2024. Experts say scaling up access to these proven, life-saving tools can unlock progress toward both national and global malaria control targets.

In March 2024, Nigeria signed the Yaoundé Declaration, pledging that no one should die from malaria given the tools and systems available. The groundbreaking ceremony builds on that pledge, following a memorandum of understanding signed last year between the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Vestergaard, and turns technological advancements into tangible progress toward a malaria-free generation.

Vestergaard CEO Amar Ali said the facility embodies the company’s commitment to a long-term partnership with Nigeria.

He explained that by directly investing in local production of PermaNet Dual, the company is delivering world-class innovation while ensuring families across Nigeria have quality protection against malaria.

Ali added that responsible enterprise must support African leadership in health by investing in local systems, training professionals, and strengthening the capacity needed for countries to protect the health of their populations.

Harvestfield Industries CEO Martins Awofisayo described the project as a significant step in strengthening Nigeria’s health security and industrial capacity.

He noted that the facility will create a reliable local source of world-class mosquito nets to support malaria prevention efforts across the country. According to him, the investment reflects a commitment to saving lives, empowering communities, and building a sustainable manufacturing base for essential public health tools.

Managing Director of SNG Health Prosper Ndayiragije said the groundbreaking opens a new chapter in malaria control for Nigeria and underlines the country’s commitment to defeating the disease.

He added that, with the support of PVAC, SNG Health is dedicated to producing Vestergaard’s latest mosquito net innovation, ensuring that no Nigerian family will have to endure the burden of malaria in the future.

The factory is expected to reinforce local capacity for malaria control, improve access to high-quality mosquito nets, and support national health security through sustainable, locally anchored production.