Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, OTACCWA President Alexander Isong outlined a stark reality: while Nigeria produces an estimated 55 million metric tonnes of food each year, nearly 40% of that output is lost due to inadequate systems for preserving perishable goods.
To reverse this trend, Nigeria urgently needs a network of 5,000 cold trucks and 100 cold rooms, each with a storage capacity of 500 tonnes, Isong revealed. Yet, the current landscape is grim. "Nigeria is next to zero," he said. "We have very small, minute cold rooms that don’t scratch the surface. The only produce that benefits from some cold storage is imported fish."
The Hidden Backbone of Food Security
Isong stressed that cold chain infrastructure is not a luxury—it’s a necessity. “If the government’s primary concern is not combating post-harvest losses, achieving the goal of completely eradicating food insecurity in Nigeria will indeed be challenging,” he said.
Without temperature-controlled storage and logistics, fruits, vegetables, proteins, and other perishables spoil before they reach markets or processing centers. This not only contributes to food scarcity but also stifles the growth potential of Nigeria’s agriculture sector.
Financial and Awareness Barriers
Despite its critical importance, the cold chain sector remains grossly underfunded and misunderstood. According to Isong, banks and investors often lack familiarity with the industry, making it difficult for stakeholders to secure financing. “Many people view cold chain as a ‘fancy’ aspect of agriculture rather than a crucial component,” he lamented.
This perception problem trickles down to farmers, middlemen, and marketers—many of whom are unaware of the economic and quality advantages a cold chain can bring. Isong called for robust public awareness campaigns to shift the narrative and build grassroots support.
Logistics and Policy Gaps Stall Export Potential
Cold chain deficiencies also impact Nigeria’s export competitiveness. Without reliable refrigeration throughout the supply chain, produce cannot meet international standards for certification. This limitation severely reduces Nigeria's access to premium global markets.
Further compounding the issue is the lack of a clear national policy or regulatory framework. “With various agencies and bodies having fragmented roles, a comprehensive cold chain policy is essential to bring the sector up to par with global standards,” Isong said.
Structural and Environmental Hurdles
The dominance of smallholder farmers and the absence of cooperative aggregation pose logistical and operational challenges for scaling cold chain solutions. In addition, middlemen—who often control market access—may resist changes that threaten their traditional business models.
Environmental factors like high humidity and extreme temperatures further complicate storage and transport, accelerating spoilage in the absence of proper cooling systems. Meanwhile, seasonal gluts and price swings continue to destabilize the market.
Unlocking Cold Chain Potential
Despite these barriers, Isong remains optimistic about what a functioning cold chain could achieve. Beyond reducing losses, it would expand the diversity and availability of food, improving nutrition and economic resilience. Items such as fruits, vegetables, and proteins—currently at risk of spoilage—could be more reliably stored and transported, improving food security and price stability.
The Way Forward
For Nigeria to unlock the full potential of its agricultural output, cold chain infrastructure must move from the margins to the mainstream of policy and investment priorities. The country not only needs trucks and storage but also institutional coordination, financing mechanisms, farmer education, and logistics integration.
If Nigeria can address these gaps, the cold chain sector could become a game-changer—not just for reducing waste, but for transforming agriculture into a more profitable, export-ready, and food-secure industry.