Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi MD/CEO NEPZA (left), presenting the Operation Licence to Mr. Martins A. Awofisayo, MD/CEO Harvestfield Industries Limited, promoter of the zone.
By Chioma James
The Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) has issued the Declaration and Operational Licence for the Harvestfield Free Trade Zone (FTZ), a specialised medical manufacturing zone designed to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported healthcare products and strengthen local production capacity.
Presenting the licences in Abuja, NEPZA Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Olufemi Ogunyemi, described the development as a major step toward achieving self-sufficiency in the health sector and promoting export-driven industrial growth.
He noted that the Harvestfield FTZ, promoted by Harvestfield Industries, would serve as a critical platform for manufacturing essential medical supplies locally, thereby reducing pressure on foreign exchange and improving access to lifesaving health commodities.
According to Ogunyemi, Nigeria’s free trade zones provide investors with incentives, infrastructure support, and an enabling business environment capable of accelerating large-scale industrial production. He urged both domestic and international medical investors to take advantage of the framework to expand operations in the country.
“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,” he said, adding that the Authority remains committed to facilitating investments that stimulate economic growth.
The NEPZA boss further emphasised that the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritises industrialisation, job creation, and the transformation of Nigeria into an export-oriented economy.
Also speaking at the event, Presidential and Federal Ministry of Health representative, Dr. Abdu Mukthar, said the project stemmed from the 2024 Executive Order on Local Manufacturing of Healthcare Products signed by President Tinubu to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical and medical production.
Mukthar, who also coordinates the Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chains (PVAC), disclosed that the zone will host a joint venture between Danish global health company Vestergaard and Harvestfield through SNG Health.
He explained that the facility will manufacture up to 10 million dual-insecticide mosquito nets annually and is expected to generate about 600 direct jobs in Ogun State, alongside numerous indirect employment opportunities across the value chain.
The project, backed by an initial investment of about 30 million dollars, is scheduled to commence production in April 2026 and is projected to meet roughly 30 percent of Nigeria’s insecticide-treated net demand in its first phase, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to combat malaria and reduce dependence on imported medical supplies.