The US government through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and in partnership with the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), has co-funded the construction of a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical-grade warehouse in Lagos using an innovative technology called a Warehouse-in-a-Box.
Earlier this year, construction began on a similar project in Abuja at the Idu Industrial Area.
The US government provided $4 million, with GFATM contributing $1 million, and the Federal Government of Nigeria the land to land to construct the warehouse in Lagos.

“We’re happy to help the government of Nigeria establish a national system to ensure that Nigerian families, especially expectant mothers and children, can go to a health clinic and find the medical supplies and medicines that they need,” said the Acting US Consul General in Lagos, Dehab Ghebreab.
In her welcome address, Director, Food and Drug Services Department, Pharmacist (Mrs) Gloria Chukwumah speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the warehouse in a box at the Federal Medical Stores, Oshodi said, medicines have to be kept properly to maintain quality and efficacy.
Chukwumah urged other agencies and partners to emulate the collaborative efforts of the USAID and the Global Fund.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, FMoH, Mr Linus Awute said, the health sector particular the ministry of health is happy to be associated with the gains of the recent visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to the US.
“This project is going to equip us further in achieving a resilient health system that will be capable of responding to any situation of emergency. In healthcare, medicine and medical product is very important and its safety depends on how you preserve them. We don’t want to tolerate a chaotic drug distribution system. We want to be sure that the drugs donated or procured are safe and an efficient storage system is very crucial.”
The Lagos warehouse covers a surface area of 3465 square meters with smooth dust-free floors, temperature regulating systems, security systems, thermal insulated ceilings, and appropriate warehouse handling equipment, such as shelving, electric reach stackers, and hand pallet movers.
The warehouse will double the storage capacity of existing warehouses and will make it easier for the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health to buy, store, track, and distribute medications to health care centres across Nigeria.
Over 7000 health facilities across the country will receive commodities directly from the two new warehouses. The warehouses will also reduce the cost and time of transporting life-saving medications and equipment to all parts of Nigeria.
Building this warehouse in Lagos aligns with one of the six central technical components of the Government of Nigeria’s Saving One Million Lives initiative—scaling up access to essential medicines.

Talk911 Nigeria