President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the Lagos Vaccine Cold and Dry Storage Hub, a facility designed to serve over 90 million Nigerians across the South-West and South-South geopolitical zones by 2035. The event took place yesterday at the vaccine hub located inside the Federal Central Medical Stores in Oshodi.
Funding and Purpose
The facility was funded through a World Bank International Development Association (IDA) Credit under the IMPACT Project. Speaking at the commissioning, Tinubu, represented by the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, emphasized that the hub is intended to close infrastructure gaps and ensure that quality health services reach every Nigerian community.
For many years, Nigeria’s vaccine supply chain relied on one National Strategic Cold Store and six zonal stores, a structure that could no longer adequately serve the country’s growing population and expanding immunization needs. In response, the Federal Government, through the NPHCDA, developed the Three-Hub National Immunisation Supply Chain Model, which includes modern megastores in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano.
Three-Hub Model
The Lagos Hub, which will serve the South-West and South-South zones, is the first to be commissioned. The Abuja Hub, serving the North-Central and South-East zones, is currently under construction, while the Kano Hub for the North-West and North-East zones will commence later this year. Tinubu stated that when completed, these three hubs will provide Nigeria with a modern national vaccine distribution network built for the future, ensuring that every Nigerian child, regardless of location, has access to safe and potent vaccines.
“This achievement demonstrates what is possible when government and development partners work together with a shared purpose. The Federal Government provided the vision and leadership. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare provided policy direction. The World Bank, through the IMPACT Project, provided critical financing, while Gavi, UNICEF, and the World Health Organization contributed technical expertise and global partnership support,” Tinubu explained.
Expert Opinions
Vaccine Cold Chain Logistics Consultant at UNICEF, Emediong Ekere, commended the government’s efforts in strengthening Nigeria’s vaccine storage and distribution system with the introduction of a pharma-grade cold chain warehouse. She said this development is expected to improve immunization services across the country by optimizing cold chain storage solutions for vaccines and other medical commodities, while improving efficiency in the distribution of immunization materials nationwide.
According to Ekere, UNICEF strongly believes the facility will strengthen storage capacity for vaccines and dry commodities, with the impact extending to health centers, Local Government Area cold stores, and other healthcare facilities providing immunization services.
Catchment Area
National Programme Manager of the IMPACT project, Dr. Amina Abdul-One Muhammed, stressed that for decades, Nigeria’s vaccine supply chain rested on a structure built for a smaller country with fewer demands. She explained that the Lagos hub is the primary vaccine storage and distribution facility for the South-West and South-South geopolitical zones, covering Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states.
By 2035, this catchment area will hold an estimated 90.7 million people. “Every childhood vaccination, supplemental immunization activity, and emergency response involving vaccines in this region will depend on what leaves this building,” she added.
