Nigeria’s export market hampered by inadequate cold chain facilities

Nigeria is missing out on revenues from local and international markets due to inadequate cold chain…

Nigeria is missing out on revenues from local and international markets due to inadequate cold chain facilities. Stakeholders have ongoing concerns over shortage of facilities and manpower to enhance distribution and transportation of temperature-controlled products.

At webinar organized by Multimix Academy, in collaboration with the Nigerian Institute for Transport Technology (NITT), logistics experts voiced their concerns about the shortage of facilities and manpower to enhance distribution and transportation of temperature-controlled products, including horticulture, food and pharmaceuticals.

Over the last few years, there have been export opportunities for temperature-controlled goods. European countries are buying products such as dairy, fish, salt, fresh and frozen pork and beef, poultry, vegetables, fruits and nuts from Africa. These have contributed to rapid increase of cold storage facilities and infrastructure support. The external demand is also driving the explosion in cold chain storage facilities and logistics.

In spite of the growth in exports, producers are confronting cold chain logistics issues. This is mainly due to the nation’s infrastructure. From inadequate storage infrastructure to power outages, many trucks lack the equipment to maintain the necessary temperature to preserve the integrity of fresh and frozen produce till destination delivery.