The Federal Government has begun distributing 1,653 solar-powered cold chain units, valued at about $11 million, to strengthen vaccine storage and delivery across Nigeria. The initiative prioritises underserved and hard-to-reach communities, with the Northwest and Northcentral regions receiving the largest share.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday during the official delivery of the units from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, said the deployment will significantly enhance the country’s vaccine supply chain.
According to the breakdown, the Northwest will receive 448 units, the highest allocation, followed by the Northcentral with 308 units. The Southwest is set to get 343 units, the South-South 221, the Southeast 205, and the Northeast 128.
“Altogether, 884 units—representing 53% of the total—will be deployed to northern Nigeria, while 759 units, or 47%, will go to states in the south. Every state and the FCT will benefit,” Dr. Aina said.
He noted that the distribution forms part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises high-quality primary healthcare with immunisation as a central pillar.
The equipment, procured with support from partners including Gavi, UNICEF, WHO, and others, is expected to provide reliable vaccine storage in areas with limited access to electricity, ensuring that more Nigerians can benefit from life-saving immunisation programmes.
