Impact Over Profit: A Bold Move Towards Reshaping Healthcare in Northern Nigeria
November 20, 2025
Nigeria’s Leading Gas Manufacturer and Pan-African Health Systems Agency Forge Landmark Partnership to Secure Oxygen Access in the North.
Lagos, Nigeria, 20 November, 2025 – In a move set to reshape the healthcare landscape of Northern Nigeria, Industrial & Medical Gases Plc (IMG) – the country’s foremost and publicly traded producer of industrial and medical gases – has joined forces with Market Access Africa (MAA), a pan-African health systems agency renowned for its innovative, impact-driven approach.
At the heart of this partnership is a bold promise: to guarantee that hospitals and primary health centres across the region have reliable, affordable access to medical oxygen—now and for the long term. The collaboration will see the construction of a state-of-the-art liquid oxygen (LOX) plant in Northern Nigeria, supported by a hub-and-spoke distribution network and an innovative financing model that removes the burden of upfront capital costs for health facilities.
What distinguishes this venture is its social mission, hardwired into its business model. By leveraging IMG’s industrial scale and logistics expertise alongside MAA’s deep experience in healthcare markets and new product introduction, the partnership is structured as a social enterprise – prioritising impact over profit, and reinvesting surpluses to expand reach and keep prices low.
A key innovation is the cross-subsidisation mechanism: while the LOX plant will serve hospitals and clinics at affordable rates, it will also supply industrial clients in sectors such as steel and manufacturing. Revenues from these commercial sales will help offset the lower margins in the medical sector, ensuring that the promise of affordable oxygen is not only made, but kept.
“This is a partnership of scale and purpose,” said Olawale Ajose, Managing Partner at Market Access Africa. “By bringing together IMG’s industrial leadership and our pan-African health systems expertise, we are guaranteeing that oxygen reaches those who need it most—reliably, affordably, and for the long term.”
“As Nigeria’s leading and publicly traded gas manufacturer, IMG is proud to leverage our technical capabilities and nationwide footprint to support a model that delivers both social impact and sustainable value,” said Mr Ayodeji Oseni, Chief Executive Officer, Industrial & Medical Gases Plc.
The partnership aims to serve up to 70 hospitals in its initial phase, with plans for structured expansion to surrounding primary health centres. Construction timelines and site selection will be confirmed following completion of pre-investment activities.
Market Access Africa is a mission-driven healthcare organisation working to close access gaps for essential health products and services across Africa.
IMG is Nigeria’s leading and publicly listed producer of industrial and medical gases, with decades of experience in cryogenic engineering, quality assurance, and nationwide distribution.
Media Contact:
Krystal Mtasa
Associate, Communication and Partnerships
kmtasa@marketaccess.africa
