The Federal Government has concluded high-level engagements in China, securing discounted diagnostics deal and renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing sectors.
The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare announced the development on Wednesday via its official X handle, @Fmohnigeria, noting that the outcomes reflect the tangible results of Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reform agenda.
According to the statement, the 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 diagnostic equipment for tuberculosis and other non-communicable diseases through the United Nations StopTB Global Drug Facility,” the ministry said.
It added that the agreement directly supports the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which aims to expand access to affordable diagnostics, reduce catastrophic out-of-pocket expenses, and strengthen the nation’s healthcare value chain for long-term sustainability.
In a significant step toward industrialisation, PlusLife also committed to establishing local manufacturing operations in Nigeria between 2026 and 2028, signaling growing investor confidence under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Prof. Pate described the agreements as “a transformational step toward decentralising diagnostics and expanding access to quality testing through Nigeria’s primary healthcare system.”
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“With the significant cost advantage of PlusLife’s technology, we can stretch our resources further to test more Nigerians and save more lives,” he stated.
He further highlighted that the investment momentum was being catalysed by President Tinubu’s Executive Order removing all taxes and import duties on pharmaceutical raw materials, diagnostic equipment, vaccine inputs, and other healthcare manufacturing components.
“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 addressed the Sino-Africa Healthcare Cooperation Forum 2025 in Beijing, co-organised by the Embassy of Nigeria, CEIBS, AFKMED, and VCBeat, where he reaffirmed that Nigeria’s macroeconomic and health sector reforms are strategically aligned to promote industrial development and sustainable growth.
Pate emphasised that through strategic diplomacy and reform-driven policy execution, Nigeria is positioning itself as Africa’s emerging hub for diagnostic innovation, pharmaceutical production, and health technology scale-up.
“These efforts are strengthening national preparedness, expanding access to life-saving care, and driving the health sector as a key engine of economic growth,” he said.
