Nigeria’s agricultural sector is facing a staggering annual loss of ₦3.5 trillion due to post-harvest wastage, a crisis that experts say threatens food security, undermines economic stability, and devastates farmers’ livelihoods.
The losses, estimated at 50% of total harvests by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), have prompted renewed calls for urgent investments in cold chain infrastructure.
This call for action was made at the Cold Chain in Agriculture Roundtable 2025, convened by Ecotutu, a company renowned for its solar-powered cold chain solutions.
Stakeholders and industry experts at the event emphasized that the absence of adequate cold storage systems, poor transportation networks, and limited access to preservation technologies are at the heart of Nigeria’s post-harvest losses.
Delivering the keynote address, Prince S.J. Samuel, Executive Chairman of Origin Group, described the situation as a systemic failure rooted in weak agricultural linkages.
Represented by Olusesan Ayeni, Director at Origin Tech, Samuel stated, “Nigeria is among Africa’s top producers of tomatoes, yam, cassava, and citrus, yet our cold chain infrastructure remains underdeveloped or entirely absent in several value chains.”
He underscored that cold chain systems should be regarded as essential infrastructure as vital as roads and electricity for feeding the nation, supporting exports, and transforming rural livelihoods. He called for a collaborative ecosystem and increased government support to address the crisis.
Also speaking at the event, Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Systems, Abisola Olusanya, reiterated the government’s support for young innovators and startups developing post-harvest technologies.
She highlighted the state’s ongoing efforts to build a unified food database, enhance transparency, and promote data-driven interventions in agriculture.
Commending Ecotutu for its solar-powered cold storage innovation, Olusanya noted the critical role of such initiatives in reducing food spoilage.
“These solutions offer hope for a more resilient and responsive food system capable of supporting Lagos’ growing population,” she said.
Peter Keulers, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands in Lagos, revealed that in partnership with the Lagos State Government, the Netherlands developed the Polar Store, a solar-powered cold storage unit that doubles as a demonstration and training hub.
The project, he said, showcases the potential of renewable energy to revolutionize cold storage and address food preservation challenges in Nigeria.
Adejoke Noiu, Head of Operations at Ecotutu, noted the company’s strides in addressing post-harvest losses.
“From deploying mobile solar cold rooms to offering affordable pay-as-you-chill models, we have extended shelf life, reduced spoilage, and helped food go farther and feed more people,” she said.
Ecotutu’s CEO, Babajide Oluwase, described the roundtable as a strategic platform to intensify dialogue and generate scalable solutions to the country’s post-harvest crisis.
He emphasized that real progress will require sustained collaboration across public, private, and development sectors to build a cold chain ecosystem that supports Nigeria’s agricultural transformation.
With stakeholders aligned on the urgency of the issue, the event ended with a shared commitment to transforming Nigeria’s cold storage capacity, a vital step toward reducing wastage, enhancing food security, and safeguarding farmers’ incomes.
