By Anifowoshe Oladipupo
Nigeria has signed a landmark agreement with China’s Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company to establish the country’s first insulin production plant, a move set to transform diabetes care and boost local pharmaceutical capacity.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), signed on September 10, 2025, in Abuja, was announced to the press the following day.
The project is expected to drastically reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imported insulin, which currently costs the country billions of naira annually in foreign exchange.
The Director-General of the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, signed the pact with Shanghai Haiqi’s General Manager, Mr. Bokai Zhai, in the presence of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji.
According to NBRDA, the plant will enhance access to affordable insulin, ensure a steady supply for millions of Nigerians living with diabetes, and generate new jobs in the biotechnology sector.
Officials noted that beyond meeting domestic needs, the initiative positions Nigeria as a future hub for biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation across Africa.
