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 post-harvest losses.
The President of OTACCWA, Mr Alexander Isong, disclosed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Isong told NAN that Nigeria needs between 6,000 and 7,000 refrigerated trucks to tackle its N5 trillion yearly post-harvest losses.
He said the earlier estimate of 5,000 trucks was only a minimum threshold, adding that expanded analysis showed a higher requirement for 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.
“Without cold mobility, storage facilities alone cannot solve the problem. Transport is the critical missing link,” he said.
He added that expansion of refrigerated transport must be complemented with pre-cooling centres located near farms to reduce spoilage within hours of harvest.
Isong, also the Country Director – Nigeria for World Agriculture Forum, advocated digital traceability systems to monitor temperature compliance across supply chains.
According to him, scaling cold mobility will significantly stabilise food prices, improve farmer earnings and reduce waste.
He noted that improved transport infrastructure would strengthen Nigeria’s participation in regional trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
According to him, cold chain infrastructure plays a crucial role in addressing food insecurity in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, particularly in reducing post-harvest losses.
He noted that a cold chain refers to a temperature-controlled supply chain used to preserve and transport perishable products, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and chemicals, from the point of origin to the point of consumption.
“The goal is to maintain a consistent temperature range throughout the entire process, from production and storage to transportation and distribution, to ensure the quality, safety, and shelf life of the products,” he said.
NAN reports that OTACCWA is a multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral body comprising professionals, companies, and organisations in Nigeria and ECOWAS countries.
It aims to organise and advocate for stakeholders in the cold chain supply industry, focusing on perishable goods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines.
OTACCWA promotes industry collaboration, sustainability, and innovation, including policy recommendations, standards setting, and infrastructure development.
