Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi (left), presenting the Operation Licence to Mr. Martins A. Awofisayo, Managing Director/CEO of Harvestfield Industries Limited, promoter of the zone.
By Felix Khanoba
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has presented the Declaration and Operational licences for the newly approved Harvestfield Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a medical-products-focused zone expected to reduce the country’s dependence on imported healthcare supplies.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NEPZA, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, said the development would significantly curb the importation of medical products.
He made the remark in Abuja while presenting both the Declaration of Licence and the Operation Licence to the zone’s promoters.
In a statement signed on Tuesday by the Head of Corporate Communication at NEPZA, Dr. Martins Odeh, the managing director explained that investors in the health sector should take advantage of the country’s free zones to expand domestic production of medical 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 added 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.’’
Also speaking, the Presidential and Ministry of Health representative, Dr. Abdu Mukthar, said the Harvestfield FTZ stemmed from the Presidential Executive Order on Local Manufacturing of Healthcare Products signed in 2024 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Mukthar explained that Danish conglomerate Vestergaard, the world’s largest insecticide-treated net manufacturer, in partnership with Nigerian business group Harvestfield, would operate in the zone through a joint venture known as SNG Health.
He said the project would produce 10 million dual-insecticide nets annually and create an estimated 600 jobs in Ogun State.
Mukthar, who also serves as the National Coordinator of the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC), said the partners had invested $30 million in setting up the facility, with additional commitments from smaller investors.
“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.
