That makes the ground-breaking of SNG Health’s new factory in Ogun State a huge relief, with Nigeria taking control of its own malaria defence. 

The joint venture between Vestergaard and Harvestfield Industries, SNG Health, will locally produce PermaNet Dual, with operations expected to start in April 2026 and an annual capacity of 10 million nets. The factory is projected to create about 600 skilled jobs.

The launch event on Monday, December 8, 2025, was attended by public-sector and international partners including PVAC, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Malaria Elimination Programme, the Swiss Consulate in Lagos, and the World Bank, among others. 

These stakeholders reiterated that this is industrial policy dressed as public health. Local manufacture means speed, stability and the chance to beat insecticide resistance at scale.

“Nigeria still bears 25% of the global malaria burden,” said Nicolas Schornoz, Vestergaard’s chief financial & operating officer. He added that producing dual-active ingredient nets locally will reduce import dependence and add resilience to a fragile supply chain. 

Prosper Ndayiragije, managing director of SNG Health, said: “Every net produced from this project structure will not just be a product, it’s a shield of protection, a symbol of hope and a tangible step towards a malaria-free future.” 

He noted that hiring is already underway, with seven staff on board and plans to expand to 80 permanent employees by February. Equipment and raw materials are en route. 

Harvestfield’s CEO, Martins Awofisayo, spoke on the firm’s partnership, reiterating that the project is homegrown industrialisation: “We are bringing the best to Nigeria. We are not coming to cut corners. This will be the best net production ever in Nigeria.” 

Harvestfield has been part of Nigeria’s malaria response for decades, and already has a solid local manufacturing footprint. 

Government officials also confirmed strong support for the project. Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of PVAC, stated: “When you produce, we will buy.” 

He linked the project to the President’s Nigeria-first procurement policy and pledged coordination on incentives, free-trade zones and licensing to help the factory thrive. That guarantee is important as local demand is the quickest path from startup to scale. 

Health officials including Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor of the National Malaria Elimination Programme stressed that nets must reach both campaigns and routine distribution points such as antenatal clinics and child-immunisation centres. 

“Since 2021 the programme has distributed about 150 million nets,” she noted; local manufacturing should make routine replenishment more reliable and equitable. 

International partners said the factory was part of resilience building. The World Bank’s Onoriode Ezire emphasised jobs and human capital, fewer workdays lost to malaria, greater productivity, and a healthier workforce. 

Switzerland’s Consul General, Cornelia Camenzind, celebrated the technology transfer and research pedigree that Vestergaard brings, noting that this is knowledge-sharing investment, not just a bricks-and-mortar one. 

PermaNet Dual is a dual-active net (pyrethroid + chlorfenapyr) designed to tackle insecticide resistance, which has reduced the effectiveness of older nets in many regions. 

Local production means faster responses to outbreaks, fewer logistical delays, and the potential for Nigeria to supply neighbouring countries if demand and quality standards are met. 

The plant’s planned capacity of 10 million nets per year is noteworthy but will require strong procurement, financing and distribution to make a huge impact on national coverage. 

There are risks. Manufacturing at scale requires steady cash flow, regulatory certainty and market commitments. The speakers addressed these points, with government procurement pledges, donor interest and World Bank support all emphasised. 

Ultimately, execution in keeping the factory supplied with orders and sustaining quality over time, will determine success. If tackled effectively, SNG Health could be the first of many steps toward a self-reliant public-health industry in West Africa.

In March 2024, Nigeria signed the Yaoundé Declaration, pledging that “no one should die from malaria given the tools and systems available.”

The ground-breaking ceremony turns that pledge into action, building on the momentum from the memorandum of understanding that was signed between the Nigerian Ministry of Health and Vestergaard last year, and turning technological advancements into tangible progress for a malaria-free generation.

The funds, according to the agency, have helped create more than 100,000 jobs across different sectors, part of its strategy to revive the country’s economy through grassroots enterprise.

In an exclusive conversation with NAN, the Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, laid bare the scale of the agency’s operations. SMEDAN has gone beyond access to money, combining finance, equipment, and regulatory support to expand the capacity of Nigeria’s SME sector.

“We have mobilised over ₦11 billion to make financing more affordable for small businesses and helped create more than 100,000 new jobs across the country,” Odii said.

This achievement, he noted, is tied to the Tinubu administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. But while the political umbrella gives the initiative a national face, the on-ground execution has been anything but cosmetic. 

SMEDAN has been working with the National Assembly and foreign partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Google, and GIZ to offer practical support, particularly in the areas of digitisation and technical capacity building.

In parallel, SMEDAN has reactivated previously dormant Industrial Development Centres (IDCs), including facilities in Abuja, Osun, and Katsina. 

These hubs are now functional again, providing small businesses with reliable power, access to modern machinery, and hands-on operational support. It’s a big change from the past when small businesses were expected to grow without infrastructure.

Odii explained, “As part of efforts to revitalise local production, SMEDAN has also restored operations at several Industrial Development Centres, including those in Abuja, Osun, and Katsina States, where small businesses now benefit from access to modern machinery, steady power supply, and enterprise support.”

He stressed that SMEDAN’s collaboration with regulatory agencies, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), NAFDAC, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), is helping businesses formalise without the traditional bottlenecks.

“Formalisation remains a key focus. SMEDAN has partnered with key regulatory agencies to ease the business environment,” he said.

That includes support for business registration, tax compliance, and access to standards and quality certification, barriers that previously limited many small business owners to informal trading.

Odii also pointed to youth-focused initiatives. SMEDAN is currently working with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to convert bright ideas into viable businesses. The approach was to identify talent early, offer tools, and back them with business education and resources.

“This is what the Renewed Hope Agenda looks like in action; real support, real results, and a growing ecosystem where Nigerian businesses can thrive,” he stated.

An example is the SMEDAN Garment and Textile Hub in Abuja’s Idu Industrial Development Centre. Powered by solar and supported by the UNDP, the centre gives fashion entrepreneurs access to affordable machinery and consistent electricity, helping them scale up their operations.

“The solar-powered hub, made possible through a partnership with the UNDP, enables fashion entrepreneurs to access affordable industrial machines and stable power supply, thereby increasing productivity and job creation,” Odii explained.

Beyond hubs and partnerships, SMEDAN is pushing the “GROW Nigerian” strategy, an acronym for Guidance, Resources, Opportunities, and Workforce support. It’s designed to boost job creation and also deepen resilience within communities by anchoring local economies around empowered SMEs.

“The result is more jobs, stronger businesses, and greater value unlocked within communities nationwide.”

Not letting inflation, high costs, and policy shocks limit its goals, SMEDAN is building the foundation of a more stable and inclusive economy.