ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Federal Government has wrapped up strategic talks in China, securing a heavily discounted diagnostics deal and reigniting investor interest in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing space.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare revealed this on Wednesday in Abuja, via its official X handle.
According to the ministry, these recent outcomes show that Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms are already attracting concrete international benefits.
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During a working visit to PlusLife Diagnostics’ corporate headquarters and production plants in Guangzhou, China, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, sealed new commitments.
“The minister secured a commitment for heavily discounted mass procurement of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic equipment for tuberculosis and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through the United Nations StopTB Global Drug Facility.
“This agreement directly supports the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which aims to expand access to affordable diagnostics, eliminate catastrophic out-of-pocket spending, and unlock the healthcare value chain for long-term sustainability.
“In a significant boost to industrialisation, PlusLife also committed to establishing local manufacturing operations in Nigeria between 2026 and 2028, reinforcing the growing investor confidence driven by the President’s reform policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement read.
Pate described the deals as a game-changing step for decentralising diagnostics and improving access to reliable testing across primary healthcare facilities nationwide.
“With the significant cost advantage of PlusLife technology, we can stretch resources further to test more Nigerians and save more lives,” he said.
He further emphasised that the investment surge is being directly driven by President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order eliminating all taxes and import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials, diagnostic equipment, vaccine production inputs, and other healthcare manufacturing lines.
“This Executive Order is not theoretical; it is already working.
“Global partners are responding because Nigeria has now become a viable market where innovation, manufacturing, and value chain growth can thrive,” Pate added.
The statement also said the minister delivered remarks at the Sino-Africa Healthcare Cooperation Forum 2025 in Beijing, put together by the Embassy of Nigeria in conjunction with CEIBS, AFKMED, and VCBeat.
At the event, he reaffirmed that Nigeria’s macroeconomic reforms and new health sector policies were aligning health development with industrialisation goals creating fresh manufacturing opportunities, boosting efficiency, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Pate concluded that through strategic diplomacy backed by decisive policy execution, Nigeria is positioning itself as Africa’s rising centre for diagnostic innovation, pharmaceutical production, and health technology scale-up strengthening preparedness, widening access to critical care, and powering the health sector as a major economic growth driver.