For millions of Nigerians living with diabetes, a vial of insulin isn’t just medicine, it’s survival. Yet for decades, that survival has depended almost entirely on imported supplies. This dependence has left patients and their families grappling with unpredictable shortages, crippling costs, and the constant uncertainty of vulnerable foreign supply chains.
That is why a landmark announcement in Abuja last week signals a potential turning point. Nigeria’s National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company Ltd. of China to establish the nation’s first-ever insulin production facility. For the first time in its history, Nigeria is paving the way to produce this essential medicine domestically.
The deal was sealed in the presence of Uche Nnaji, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, with NBRDA’s Director-General, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, signing on behalf of the government, and Mr. Bokai Zhai, General Manager of Shanghai Haiqi, representing the Chinese side.
Why It Matters
For people managing Type 1 diabetes and many with Type 2, insulin is a non-negotiable lifeline. Yet, Nigeria spends billions of naira annually in foreign exchange to import it, only to face inconsistent supply and prohibitive prices.
The new plant is set to transform this reality. By manufacturing insulin locally, the government aims to end the country’s dependence on imports, stabilise the national supply, and make treatment more affordable. This move will also help protect the nation’s valuable foreign reserves.
“This initiative is a turning point for Nigeria’s health sector,” Prof. Mustapha said. “For the first time, we will have standardised, locally produced insulin, ensuring both quality and affordability for Nigerians, and eventually for other African countries as well.”
More Than Medicine
For policymakers, this project is about more than producing vials of insulin. It signals a bet on biotechnology as a pillar of Nigeria’s industrial growth.
The Minister, Uche Nnaji, described the partnership as a spark for wider innovation: “This is about health, yes, but it’s also about building capacity, driving industrialisation, and creating jobs. It’s about reducing our dependence on imports and charting a course toward self-sufficiency.”
Shanghai Haiqi’s General Manager, Mr. Zhai, reinforced that the collaboration would go beyond bricks and mortar. The company plans to transfer knowledge, train local scientists, and build the kind of technical expertise that can keep the plant sustainable for the long term.
Very few African countries produce insulin at scale. If Nigeria’s facility comes online as planned, it will be among the first of its kind on the continent. That positions Nigeria not just as a consumer of biotech solutions but as a potential supplier for its neighbours.
The implications ripple outward: new jobs in pharmaceutical manufacturing, new opportunities for researchers, and a step toward reducing Africa’s dependence on imported medicine.
The Bigger Picture
According to reports by Nairametrics, the plant will not only save the government billions in foreign exchange but also ensure patients can consistently get the insulin they need. However, the impact of this project extends far beyond financial savings. As non-communicable diseases rise across Africa, the ability to produce essential medicines locally has become a critical measure of a nation’s health security and self-sufficiency.
For the Nigerian families who have been forced to ration doses, skip meals to make their insulin last, or pay exorbitant black-market prices to keep loved ones alive, this promise of affordable, locally-made insulin is not just a policy.
Ultimately, the signatures on that agreement represent more than a business deal; they mark the beginning of a foundational shift. This is Nigeria’s chance to transform a daily struggle for survival into a powerful narrative of national self-reliance, one vial at a time.
