Nigerian health technology firm Codix Bio Ltd has announced plans to commence large-scale local production of HIV and malaria rapid diagnostic test kits, in response to looming shortages triggered by recent cuts in U.S. foreign aid.
The move comes as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), a major backer of Nigeria’s health sector, scales back funding. In 2024, USAID allocated $740 million to health programmes in Nigeria, covering HIV prevention, malaria control, and vaccine delivery. However, fiscal adjustments in Washington have raised concerns about the sustainability of foreign assistance to developing countries, including Nigeria.
Speaking to Reuters, Codix Bio’s General Manager, Olanrewaju Balaja, said production at the company’s new facility in Iperu-Remo, Ogun State, would begin before the end of June. The plant, developed in partnership with South Korea’s SD Biosensor and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), is expected to produce up to 147 million test kits annually, with capacity to scale up to over 160 million.
