FG launch 40 million-dose vaccine storage facility

• Published On: 14 February 2025 at 06:57

The Federal Government has inaugurated a solar-powered strategic vaccine storage facility in Sheda, FCT, with a 40-million-dose capacity.

Built under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project with World Bank support, the facility was unveiled by Livestock Development Minister, Idi Maiha and Prof. Attahiru Jega, co-chair of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Committee.


Maiha made this disclosure in a statement on Thursday.

Maiha described the unveiling of the 40-million-dose solar-powered vaccine storage as a strategic step toward strengthening national animal health infrastructure and service delivery.

"Today, we are closing the critical storage gap with a world-class facility that will ensure the efficient and effective storage and distribution of vaccines across the country. This facility is outfitted with a cutting-edge solar-powered system, ensuring resilience in the face of power supply challenges and long-term sustainability.

"With a capacity of 40 million doses, we are now better equipped to respond to emerging zoonotic outbreaks of transboundary animal diseases, and major zoonotic threats, thereby subverting both animal and human health," according to the minister.

Speaking on behalf of the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, Jega emphasized the facility's importance in advancing the Federal Government's commitment to livestock health, productivity, and resilience.

"We are all aware that animal diseases, particularly transboundary and zoonotic diseases, pose a serious threat to food and nutrition security, public health, and overall economic stability in our country.

"The establishment of this facility is thus an important milestone in the fight against these challenges and the repositioning of our country's livestock sector. This initiative is perfectly aligned with Mr. President's overall goals for a reformed and well-developed livestock sector," Jega stated.

Sanusi Abubakar, L-PRES National Project Coordinator, described the project as a carefully planned initiative based on a needs assessment conducted in collaboration with the Nigerian Chief Veterinary Officer's Office.

He stated that, during the recent anthrax outbreak, L-PRES, in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Services, distributed 13 million vaccine doses to veterinary offices in all 36 states and the FCT.

According to Abubakar, the facility will serve as a central hub for storing large vaccine supplies, whether produced locally or imported, while also ensuring efficient dispatch, quality control, cold chain maintenance, tracking, and emergency vaccination readiness.