Malaria remains one of Nigeria’s most persistent public health challenges, accounting for millions of illnesses and thousands of deaths every year. Yet one of the biggest obstacles to effective malaria control is the widespread practice of treating every fever as malaria without first confirming the diagnosis.
This habit has significant consequences. Many Nigerians spend scarce household income on antimalarial medicines they do not need, while illnesses such as typhoid, bacterial infections and viral diseases go untreated because they are mistaken for malaria. Beyond the financial cost, indiscriminate use of antimalarial drugs also accelerates the emergence of drug-resistant malaria parasites, threatening the long-term effectiveness of life-saving treatments.
This is why the decision by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), in partnership with Troment Nigeria Limited, to manufacture rapid diagnostic test kits locally deserves widespread commendation.
The Abuja-based facility, with the capacity to produce up to 600 million diagnostic kits annually under the N-CheckUP brand represents a crucial manufacturing investment for Nigerians. It is a strategic intervention that strengthens Nigeria’s healthcare system while supporting industrial development. Producing malaria, typhoid, hepatitis and HIV test kits domestically will make diagnostics more affordable and accessible, encouraging Nigerians to test before treatment and improving the quality of healthcare delivery.
The economic benefits are equally compelling. For decades, Nigeria has depended almost entirely on imported rapid diagnostic kits, resulting in substantial foreign exchange outflows. In a recent interview on Channels TV, NASENI’s Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu boldly stated that one of the goals that NASENI hopes to achieve is to cut down Nigeria’s import dependency and save huge amounts of Foreign exchange through strengthening our domestic production. By meeting an estimated 80 per cent of domestic demand through local production, the country stands to retain millions of dollars annually that would otherwise be spent on imports. At the same time, families will avoid unnecessary expenditure on medicines by purchasing antimalarial drugs only when tests confirm malaria infection.
The initiative also enhances Nigeria’s healthcare security. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the risks of relying heavily on international supply chains for essential medical products. Local manufacturing ensures a more reliable supply of diagnostic kits, reducing vulnerability to global disruptions and strengthening the country’s preparedness for future health emergencies.
Beyond meeting domestic needs, the factory’s production capacity positions Nigeria as a potential exporter of medical diagnostics across Africa under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). This represents a significant shift from being primarily an importer of healthcare products to becoming a regional supplier of health technology.
Equally important is the industrial value of the project. Manufacturing sophisticated biomedical products creates opportunities for Nigerian engineers, laboratory scientists, technicians and logistics professionals, contributing to the growth of high-skilled employment and advancing local technological capabilities.
As international donor funding for malaria programmes continues to decline, no thanks to Donald Trump, countries must increasingly build self-sustaining healthcare systems. In that context, NASENI’s investment in local diagnostic production is both timely and strategic. It demonstrates that strengthening healthcare is not only about providing treatment but also about ensuring accurate diagnosis, reducing dependence on imports, conserving foreign exchange and building domestic industrial capacity.
NASENI is helping to improve health outcomes while laying the foundation for a more resilient and self-reliant healthcare system. It is a forward-looking investment whose benefits will be felt far beyond the factory floor.
– Raphael Olukayode is a graduate of Microbiology and writes from Ogun state
