Nigeria plans US$100M veterinary vaccine plant to strengthen livestock disease control

NIGERIA – Nigeria is considering developing a US$100 million veterinary vaccine manufacturing facility through a technology transfer partnership with a Chinese consortium to strengthen domestic vaccine production, reduce import dependence, and improve the country’s response to livestock diseases.

The proposed project, led by Vacci Afric Biologics Limited, was presented to the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development as part of the government’s efforts to expand local veterinary vaccine manufacturing capacity. 

If approved, the facility will initially serve Nigeria’s domestic market before supplying vaccines across West and Central Africa.

According to the ministry, the plant will be developed through a technology transfer agreement with a consortium of Chinese vaccine manufacturers. 

The partners will support the design, commissioning and initial operation of the facility alongside Nigerian personnel. 

The arrangement includes a 24-month joint operating period, followed by a mentorship phase that will gradually transfer full operational responsibility to Nigerian professionals.

Once fully operational, the facility is expected to produce 1.2 billion doses of veterinary vaccines annually, making it one of the largest veterinary vaccine manufacturing projects on the continent. 

The first phase of the investment is valued at US$100 million and is expected to create between 600 and 900 skilled jobs.

Speaking during the project presentation, Minister of Livestock Development Idi Mukhtar Maiha said the government supports private-sector investment in veterinary vaccine production but stressed that all projects must comply with international scientific, regulatory, and biosafety standards.

Maiha described the proposal as timely, noting that Nigeria faces a significant shortage of vaccines needed to control priority livestock diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and African swine fever (ASF). 

He also urged the company to work closely with the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) and other relevant institutions to ensure scientific credibility and long-term sustainability.

Supporting Nigeria’s animal health strategy

The proposed investment aligns with Nigeria’s 2026-2036 National Animal Health Strategy, adopted in May, which seeks to modernise veterinary services through stronger laboratory capacity, improved vaccination programmes and expanded public-private partnerships.

Nigeria continues to battle several endemic livestock diseases that reduce productivity and threaten food security. 

In April 2026, the country reported a new anthrax outbreak in livestock in Zamfara State to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), highlighting the continued need for rapid access to veterinary vaccines.

According to Vacci Afric Biologics Managing Director Madu Ugochukwu, the project was conceived after the company identified weaknesses in Nigeria’s veterinary vaccine supply chain, particularly potency losses due to cold-chain and distribution challenges. 

He said consultations have already begun with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, and the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority (NEPZA) to meet regulatory and investment requirements.

If completed, the facility is expected to improve vaccine availability, strengthen disease preparedness and position Nigeria as a regional supplier of veterinary vaccines.

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