Nigerian healthcare manufacturer Codix Bio Ltd is set to begin large-scale production of HIV and malaria rapid diagnostic test kits at its new facility near Lagos later this month. The initiative comes amid a decline in foreign aid from the United States, particularly from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), which has traditionally supported Nigeria’s health sector.
The facility is being developed in partnership with South Korean pharmaceutical company SD Biosensor and is supported by the World Health Organization (WHO). Codix Bio’s chief executive Olanrewaju Balaja said the facility will initially produce up to 147 million test kits per year, with plans to expand capacity to more than 160 million units to meet both local and regional demand.
The move is seen as a response to recent funding cuts by the United States, the world’s largest humanitarian donor. In 2024, US aid to Nigeria reached $740 million, focusing on malaria prevention, HIV control and vaccine distribution. While the impact of the cuts on Nigeria remains uncertain, the government has pledged to seek alternative funding to continue vital health programs.
Balaja said Codix Bio can meet Nigeria’s testing needs and aims to scale up to supply markets in Western and Sub-Saharan Africa. “Our focus is to be a major provider of rapid diagnostic test kits for both the Nigerian government and donors like the Global Fund,” he said.
According to the World Health Organization, Nigeria has the highest global malaria burden, accounting for about 27% of global cases. The country also ranks fourth globally in HIV prevalence, underscoring the urgent need for continued access to affordable, locally produced diagnostic tools.