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 called the unveiling of the 40-million-dose solar-powered vaccine storage a strategic move to strengthen national animal health infrastructure and service delivery.
“Today, we are bridging the critical storage gap with a world-class facility that will ensure efficient and effective storage and distribution of vaccines across the country. This facility is designed with a cutting-edge solar-powered system ensuring resilience against power supply challenges and attendant 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,” the minister said.
Speaking for the Presidential Livestock Reforms Implementation Committee, Jega emphasized the facility’s role in advancing the Federal Government’s commitment to livestock health, productivity, and resilience.
“As we all know, 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 therefore a crucial milestone in the fight against these challenges and in the repositioning of the livestock sector in our country. This initiative aligns perfectly with Mr. President’s broader objectives for a reformed and well-developed livestock sector,” Jega stated.
L-PRES National Project Coordinator, Sanusi Abubakar, described the project as a carefully planned initiative based on a needs assessment conducted in collaboration with the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria.
He noted that during the recent anthrax outbreak, L-PRES, in partnership with the Department of Veterinary Services, distributed 13 million vaccine doses to veterinary offices across all 36 states and the FCT.
Abubakar stated that the facility will function as a central hub for storing large vaccine supplies, whether locally produced or imported, ensuring efficient dispatch, quality control, cold chain maintenance, tracking, and emergency vaccination readiness.
