The Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA) has disclosed that Nigeria requires between 6,000 and 7,000 refrigerated trucks to effectively address the nation’s persistent post-harvest losses.
The President of OTACCWA, Mr. Alexander Isong, disclosed this in an interview in Lagos, stating that this volume of refrigerated transport was essential to tackle the estimated N5 trillion in annual economic losses resulting from food spoilage.
He noted that an earlier estimate of 5,000 trucks served only as a minimum threshold, but expanded analysis showed a higher requirement for total nationwide coverage.
“To achieve meaningful national coverage, including rural production zones, we need a structured mix of small last-mile refrigerated trucks, medium distribution trucks, and heavy-duty long-haul cold transport vehicles,” Isong said.
He emphasised that storage facilities alone could not solve the problem, describing cold mobility as the “critical missing link” in the value chain.
The OTACCWA President added that the expansion of refrigerated transport must be complemented by pre-cooling centres located near farms to reduce spoilage within hours of harvest.
Isong, who also serves as the Country Director for Nigeria for the World Agriculture Forum, advocated for digital traceability systems to monitor temperature compliance across supply chains.
Scaling cold mobility would significantly stabilise food prices, improve farmer earnings, and reduce waste, according to the President.
He noted that improved transport infrastructure would also strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Isong defined a cold chain as a temperature-controlled supply chain used to preserve and transport perishable products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, from origin to consumption.
“The goal is to maintain a consistent temperature range throughout the entire process… to ensure the quality, safety, and shelf life of the products,” he explained.
Source: NAN
