By Mercy Gadia
The Federal Government on Tuesday commissioned an expanded Abuja Premier Warehouse to improve the distribution of medicines, vaccines and other critical health commodities nationwide.
The facility is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s health supply chain and boost storage capacity for essential drugs.
The warehouse complements 22 Central Medical Warehouses across 21 states supported by the Global Fund.
Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, who represented the Coordinating Minister of Health, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the project would enhance efficient delivery of life-saving products.
She said the expansion would ensure proper storage and distribution of medicines and vaccines under optimal conditions.
“The facility will improve logistics efficiency and safeguard the quality and potency of health commodities,” she said.
Kachollom added that the warehouse, whose foundation was laid in April 2025, would serve as a strategic national asset.
She said it would also support ongoing reforms in the health sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The permanent secretary assured stakeholders that the Federal Government would sustain the facility.
She commended development partners, including the Global Fund, UNICEF, World Health Organisation, United States Government and the Gates Foundation, for their support.
Pate, in his remarks, said the project underscored the importance of collaboration in strengthening Nigeria’s health system.
“The facility will contribute significantly to Nigeria’s journey toward Universal Health Coverage,” he said.
Also speaking, Executive Director of the Global Fund, Peter Sands, said a strong supply chain was critical to healthcare delivery.
“You cannot have a health system in a country as big and diverse as Nigeria without a robust supply chain,” he said.
The Deputy Representative (Operations), UNICEF, Charles Lolika, said the warehouse and similar facilities would benefit about 149 million Nigerians, including 68 million children.
He added that over 150 primary healthcare centres were also being upgraded under the partnership.
The World Health Organisation Country Representative, Pavel Ursu, stressed the need for consistency in implementing health programmes.
“We will be measuring together the success of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria,” he said.
A representative of the Gates Foundation said commodity security remained key to reducing deaths and improving healthcare outcomes.