The Federal Government has concluded strategic engagements in China, resulting in a major discounted diagnostics deal and renewed investor interest in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing sectors.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare disclosed this on Wednesday via its official X page, @Fmohnigeria, noting that the developments signal tangible global gains from Nigeria’s health sector reform agenda.
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, secured the commitments during a working visit to PlusLife Diagnostics’ corporate headquarters and manufacturing facilities in Guangzhou, China.
“The Minister secured a commitment for heavily discounted mass procurement of Point-of-Care (POC) diagnostic equipment for tuberculosis and other non-communicable diseases through the United Nations StopTB Global Drug Facility,” the statement said.
The agreement supports the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which aims to expand access to affordable diagnostics, reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket spending, and strengthen the healthcare value chain for long-term sustainability.
In addition, PlusLife committed to establishing local manufacturing operations in Nigeria between 2026 and 2028, reflecting growing investor confidence driven by the President’s reform policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Pate described the agreements as a transformational step toward decentralising diagnostics and expanding access to quality testing across the nation’s primary healthcare system.
“With the significant cost advantage of PlusLife technology, we can stretch resources further, test more Nigerians, and save more lives,” he said.
He highlighted that the investment momentum is catalyzed by President Bola Tinubu’s Executive Order removing all taxes and import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials, diagnostic equipment, vaccine inputs, and related 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 minister also spoke at the Sino-Africa Healthcare Cooperation Forum 2025 in Beijing, organised by the Nigerian Embassy in collaboration with CEIBS, AFKMED, and VCBeat. At the forum, he reaffirmed that macroeconomic and health sector reforms are aligning health development with industrial policy, creating new manufacturing opportunities, improving sector efficiency, and promoting sustainable economic growth.
Pate concluded that through strategic diplomacy and reform-backed policy execution, Nigeria is positioning itself as Africa’s emerging hub for diagnostic innovation, pharmaceutical manufacturing, and health technology scale-up, strengthening national preparedness and expanding access to lifesaving care.
