Nigeria needs at least 5,000 cold trucks and 100 cold rooms, each capable of storing 500 tonnes of produce, to reduce the country’s staggering ₦3.5 trillion in annual post-harvest losses, according to the Organisation for Technology Advancement of Cold Chain in West Africa (OTACCWA).

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, OTACCWA President Alexander Isong painted a grim picture of the country’s cold chain infrastructure, describing it as “next to zero.” “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,” he said.

Isong revealed that Nigeria produces about 55 million metric tonnes of food every year, yet around 40% is wasted because of the absence of a reliable cold chain system. “This results in an economic loss of over ₦3.5 trillion annually,” he said.

He emphasized that solving food insecurity in Nigeria must begin with addressing the country’s gaping cold chain deficit. “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.

Isong highlighted several hurdles, starting with a lack of financing and technical understanding among Nigerian banks.

“Funding is a major issue. Most banks don’t understand the cold chain industry, so getting loans is almost impossible,” he said. He also pointed out that awareness about cold storage is low. “Many people view cold chain as a ‘fancy’ aspect of agriculture rather than a crucial component,” he said.

Isong called for widespread education and awareness campaigns targeting farmers, middlemen, marketers, and consumers. Beyond finance and awareness, he said logistics remains a major concern, particularly in connecting farms to markets in a way that ensures produce certification and export readiness.

“Without a continuous cold chain, produce certification is unattainable, severely limiting export opportunities,” he explained. He also cited regulatory confusion and fragmented oversight among agencies.

“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 added. The cold chain sector’s heavy reliance on smallholder farmers poses another challenge.

According to him, the lack of cooperative aggregation and resistance from middlemen make the rollout of large-scale cold storage difficult.

“Middlemen may be hesitant to adapt due to limited knowledge or concerns about disrupting their existing business operations,” he said. Environmental challenges further complicate the picture.

High humidity, extreme temperatures, and seasonal cycles increase spoilage and destabilize pricing across the agricultural value chain. Despite the challenges, Isong stressed the potential of cold chain investment to improve the country’s food supply and nutritional diversity.

“Cold chain infrastructure can help increase the availability and variety of food in Nigeria, especially for perishable items like fruits, vegetables, and proteins,” he said. He urged policymakers and investors to prioritize the cold chain sector, warning that without bold, coordinated investment and regulation, Nigeria’s post-harvest losses will continue to derail its food security goals.