Shanghai Haiqi to Invest in Insulin Plant in Nigeria
During a reception to mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Abuja at the end of September 2025, Chinese Ambassador in Nigeria YU Dunhai announced that China will invest in Nigeria to build an insulin production facility.To that effect, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was recently signed between Shanghai Haiqi Industrial Company and Nigeria’s National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA).
According to some estimates, the number of cases of diabetes in Africa is expected to rise to 60 million by 2050, up from only 2.5 million in 2000. With the improvement in the conditions of living and sedentary lifestyle, more and more people are becoming diabetic.
“Chinese companies are in talks with Nigeria to build Africa’s first local insulin production facility, potentially ending Nigeria’s reliance on imported insulin and positioning it as a hub for African biotechnology.”
China Ambassador in Nigeria YU Dunhai
If the deal goes through, it will make Nigeria as only the 2nd African country which manufactures insulin locally. In 2024, Egypt’s EVA Pharma partnered with Eli Lili to produce insulin. Under the agreement, Eli Lily supplies the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API) and EVA Pharm takes care of 3F, viz Formulate, Fill, and Finish. The Egyptian Drug Authority approved the locally manufactured insulin in December 2024.
South-African pharma Aspen has also signed an agreement with Danish Novo Nordisk to undertake fill-and-finish for insulin vials. However, little is known about the deal for now. Actually, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi and Eli Lily are under investigation for violating free competition rules because they refuse to take part in a tender of the South African for insulin pens. The three companies Eli Lily, Novo Nordisk, and Sanofi currently control nearly 90% of the African insulin market.
“The initiative aligns fully with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes healthcare, innovation, industrialization, and self-reliance as key drivers of national transformation. The partnership also reflects the strong and enduring ties between Nigeria and China, showcasing how global cooperation can deliver impactful solutions for humanity.”
Nigeria Minister of Innovation Uche Nnaji