Nigeria has taken delivery of 1,653 Solar Direct Drive (SDD) refrigerators donated by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to strengthen vaccine storage and delivery nationwide.
The handover ceremony, held in Abuja, was described as a milestone in Nigeria’s immunisation agenda and primary healthcare system.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General and Chief Executive of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr Muyi Aina, hailed the initiative as a landmark step in addressing critical gaps in vaccine storage and distribution.
He explained that the deployment aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises high-quality primary healthcare for Nigerians.
“These refrigerators will ensure vaccines remain potent and accessible, particularly in underserved and hard-to-reach communities,” Dr Aina said.
“A total of 1,653 units have been procured, with spare parts, temperature monitoring devices, and 10 years of preventive maintenance agreements. Every state of the federation, including the FCT, will benefit, with 53 per cent of the units allocated to northern states and 47 per cent to southern states.
“These refrigerators will be vital for the forthcoming measles, rubella, and polio vaccination campaign targeting more than 109 million children,” he added.
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He urged Nigerians to support the upcoming immunisation campaigns, noting that public participation was crucial in saving lives and protecting children from preventable diseases.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Alex Chimbaru commended Nigeria’s leadership and its partners, describing the refrigerators as pivotal in maintaining vaccine potency in remote and energy-challenged areas.
“This initiative aligns with the Immunisation Agenda 2030, promoting equitable access, reducing vaccine wastage, and building resilience in health systems,” he said.
Also speaking, UNICEF Nigeria’s Chief of Health, Maharajan Muthu, highlighted the transformative role of solar technology in reaching underserved populations.
He stressed that the refrigerators would ensure uninterrupted cold-chain services in off-grid areas, thereby advancing universal health coverage.
“Every child, regardless of location, must have access to safe and effective vaccines,” Muthu emphasised.
The refrigerators, already being dispatched from Abuja to states, are expected to significantly enhance Nigeria’s capacity to deliver safe vaccines, strengthen last-mile service delivery, and close nationwide immunisation gaps.
The donation also carries strong environmental benefits by promoting the use of renewable energy in vaccine storage.