L-R: Executive Assistant, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Grace Omaji; Project Team Lead, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Mrs. Binta Abdullahi; Technical Director, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Mr. Michel Achkar; Strategic Partner, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Dr. Engin Narinc; Assistant Chief Regulatory Officer, NAFDAC, Mrs. Christine Udoh; Chief Executive Officer, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Dr. Selim Samir Hani; Chief Regulatory Officer, NAFDAC, Mrs. Victoria Dadi; Director, Nano-Science Dept, NASENI, Dr. Chika Ezeanyanaso; Head of Operations, NASENI-Troment Ltd, Engr. Bashir Karam; Quality Assurance Manager, NASENI-Troment, Ms. Fatima Sani Muhammad and staff of Nano-Science Dept, Mr. Mahmud Abdulmajid in a group photograph at the NASENI Troment Factory, Idu, Abuja.

In bid to certify the NASENI-TROMENT Biotechnology factory for operation, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has inspected the facility towards final licence approval for the production of rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kits in the county.

This biotechnology factory, a partnership between the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and TROMENT Nigeria Limited, located in Idu Industrial Area, Abuja was established revolutionize disease diagnosis, strengthen healthcare infrastructure, create over 200 direct jobs and thousands of indirect jobs, and to reduce reliance on imported test kits.

Statement from agency said with local production of over 100,000 test kits daily, healthcare facilities and individuals will have access to affordable and high-quality and reliable diagnostic kits made by NASENI-TROMENT Limited.

Statement signed by Mr Segun Ayeoyenikan, the agency’s Director of Information and Protocol hinted that the factory has submitted about 26 products for NAFDAC product registration.

Speaking during the visit, the Chief Executive Officer/Co-founder, NASENI-TROMENT Limited, Dr. Selim Samir Hani said the factory is ready for full scale production.

He added that once NAFDAC certification is obtained, the factory will start local production and international distribution of its biotechnologies.

According to Mr Hani “we have a lot of requests in the demand and supply chain from state governments, we are only waiting for the NAFDAC approval”, he noted. “Our factory is ready for full-scale production. We have already obtained our ISO certification from the United States and are currently in the process of registering with the World Health Organisation”

The Director, Nano Science Department, Science Infrastructure Directorate, Dr Chika Ezeanyanaso, who represented the EVC/CEO of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, described the inspection visit as historic, assuring that it would pave the way for the issuance of the necessary licence that would grant the NASENI-TROMENT Limited full production status.

The  factory according to him would produce test kits for Malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B & C, Yellow Fever, Meningitis, Zika Virus, COVID-19, pregnancy, STD, etc.