In a bold step towards healthcare self-reliance and continental resilience, Nigerian pharmaceutical manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd has commenced local production of rapid diagnostic test kits for HIV and malaria at its state-of-the-art facility outside Lagos. The initiative aims to fill critical gaps left by recent funding cutbacks from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The new facility, located in Sagamu, Ogun State, has an initial capacity to produce 147 million test kits annually, with the potential to scale up to over 160 million units. This output rivals volumes previously supported through donor agencies such as USAID and PEPFAR, which together supplied a significant share of Nigeria’s diagnostics for infectious diseases.
“From available data, we are confident our current capacity can meet Nigeria’s local demand,” said Olanrewaju Balaja, General Manager of Plant Operations at Codix Bio. “As we scale, we are poised to serve West and Sub-Saharan Africa, reinforcing regional health security.”
A Response Rooted in African Ingenuity
Codix Bio’s manufacturing efforts are backed by a partnership with South Korea’s SD Biosensor and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The launch marks a pivotal turning point in Nigeria’s healthcare journey, which has historically been heavily reliant on imported diagnostic tools from Europe, North America, and Asia.
Until now, nearly all rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits used across the continent were imported—a situation that exposed African nations to supply chain vulnerabilities, inflated costs, and frequent delays.
“This milestone proves that African problems have African solutions,” said Mary Ogangwu, Chief Operating Officer of parent company Codix Pharma. “With local manufacturing, we’re not just building kits—we’re building healthcare sovereignty.”
From Consumer to Producer: A Continental Shift
Codix Bio is Codix Pharma’s second in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) manufacturing facility, following the launch of Colexa Biosensor, Sub-Saharan Africa’s first plant for producing blood glucose meters and strips.
The establishment of Codix Bio was driven by a long-term vision of backward integration—a strategy to reduce dependence on foreign healthcare imports and assert Nigeria’s role as a continental producer of essential medical supplies.
Balaja emphasised that Codix Bio adheres strictly to WHO Good Manufacturing Practices, with products built to meet international regulatory standards. This will enable export across African markets, bolstering intra-continental trade in line with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Addressing a Healthcare Imperative
The stakes are high. According to WHO, Nigeria accounts for a staggering 27% of the global malaria burden and ranks fourth globally in HIV prevalence, according to UNAIDS. Reliable, affordable, and accessible diagnostics are crucial to national and regional health strategies.
Codix Bio is targeting procurement partnerships with Nigeria’s Federal Government and global health financiers like the Global Fund, aiming to provide cost-effective, high-quality diagnostic solutions even as global aid funding becomes increasingly uncertain.
The U.S. government, through USAID, allocated $740 million to Nigeria in 2024, a large portion of which was channelled towards disease prevention and vaccination programmes. However, a shift in U.S. foreign aid priorities has left gaps in funding that local firms like Codix Bio now seek to fill.
“Our manufacturing launch is not just timely—it’s necessary. We’re laying the foundation for a healthcare system that is African-built, African-owned, and African-driven,” Ogangwu stated.
A Symbol of Pan-African Progress
Codix Bio’s expansion represents more than just a business milestone—it’s a symbol of African innovation, resilience, and ambition in the face of global uncertainty. As the continent moves towards sustainable healthcare systems, Nigeria’s growing diagnostic manufacturing sector could serve as a model for localisation across Africa.
“This is what health independence looks like,” Balaja said. “A time is coming when Africans will no longer wait on donors to diagnose, treat, or survive. That time starts now.”
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