Oluwatobi Adu 
LAGOS, Nigeria – Nigeria has opened a solar-powered veterinary vaccine cold storage facility in Lagos with capacity for about 40 million doses, in a move aimed at reducing vaccine wastage and strengthening the country’s capacity to control livestock diseases.
The facility was commissioned on Tuesday in Agege, Lagos, as part of a wider Federal Government initiative to build a national cold-chain network for veterinary vaccines.
Livestock Development Minister Idi Maiha said the centre would improve vaccine preservation and distribution during campaigns against diseases including Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia and foot-and-mouth disease.
The diseases continue to pose risks to livestock productivity and food security. The Lagos facility is part of a wider network that includes cold storage centres in Sokoto, Abuja, Yola, Edo and Imo.
The facilities were developed under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project with World Bank support to strengthen veterinary vaccine distribution nationwide.
Maiha said the investments were designed to improve access to vaccines while reducing losses associated with inadequate storage and distribution. “Our ambition is clear; Nigeria must progressively attain veterinary vaccine self-sufficiency and position itself as a major vaccine production and supply hub for West Africa and the African continent,” he said.
Beyond storage capacity, upgrades at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom are projected to increase annual veterinary vaccine production from about 120 million doses to more than 850 million doses.
The Federal Government said the broader investment would help reduce dependence on imported veterinary vaccines and strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to livestock disease outbreaks.
Maiha said improved animal health would support healthier herds, higher productivity and greater economic opportunities for farmers.
He also acknowledged the support of partners, including the Lagos State Government, in the development of the veterinary health infrastructure.
About the Author
Hope Ajayi 
