Mirian Gom 
LAGOS, Nigeria – With nearly 99 per cent of medical devices imported, Nigeria is moving to localise diagnostic manufacturing in a bid to strengthen health security and reduce reliance on foreign supply chains.
The push follows a strategic partnership involving Abbott, the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) and Afrimedical to produce rapid test kits for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis locally.
The initiative, launched in Lagos, comes years after the COVID-19 pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global medical supply chains.
“We import almost 70 per cent of the medicines we use, nearly 100 per cent of vaccines and about 99 per cent of medical devices in this country. President Bola Tinubu said this must change,” said PVAC National Coordinator Dr Abdul Mukhtar.
The project represents a major milestone in diagnostic manufacturing, with officials saying it marks the first time Abbott’s fourth-generation rapid test technology will be localised outside the United States.
“This is the first time this level of Abbott diagnostic technology is being localised outside the United States. It is a major milestone for Nigeria and for Africa,” Mukhtar said.
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Korede Abdullah 