The Nigerian government has inaugurated a new solar-powered vaccine storage facility in Sheda, along the Abuja-Lokoja Road in the Federal Capital Territory.
The facility, with a capacity to store 40 million doses, was officially launched on Wednesday by the Minister of Livestock Development, Idi Maiha, and Prof. Attahiru Jega, co-chair of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee.
The project, funded by the World Bank through the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (LPRES), aims to improve vaccine storage and distribution across the country.
In his remarks, Minister Maiha said the facility would help fill the gap in vaccine storage, making it easier to distribute vaccines nationwide.
“This facility is equipped with a solar-powered system, ensuring it runs smoothly despite power challenges,” Maiha explained.
He added that with a storage capacity of 40 million doses, the new facility will help Nigeria respond more effectively to animal disease outbreaks, particularly transboundary and zoonotic diseases, which can affect both animal and human health.
Prof. Jega, speaking on behalf of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, highlighted the importance of the facility in supporting the livestock sector and improving food security, public health, and economic stability in the country.
“This facility plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of animal diseases and aligns with the government’s efforts to reform the livestock sector,” Jega said.
The Minister also shared plans to commercialize the National Veterinary Institute in Jos, which would enable the production of 1.2 billion vaccines annually. This, he said, would further strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to fight animal diseases.
Sanusi Abubakar, the National Project Coordinator for LPRES, emphasized that the facility resulted from a thorough needs assessment conducted by LPRES in partnership with the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria.
He also noted that the recent anthrax outbreak response, which saw the distribution of 13 million doses of vaccines across the country, showcased the effectiveness of the project.
The new facility will serve as the central hub for storing and distributing vaccines, whether domestically produced or imported, ensuring proper storage, tracking, and cold chain maintenance.
