Governor Umar Namadi has commissioned an ultra-modern Pharmagrade Warehouse in Dutse, declaring that the facility will redefine pharmaceutical supply management and guarantee uninterrupted access to quality medicines for the people of Jigawa State.
The Central Medical Store, delivered through a partnership involving the Jigawa State Government, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Global Fund and UNICEF, was executed under the National Supply Chain Policy for Pharmaceuticals at a cost of about ₦1.4 billion. The project is considered one of the most ambitious state-led interventions in medicines logistics in Nigeria.
Performing the commissioning ceremony in Dutse, Jigawa State recently, Gov Namadi said the warehouse represents a decisive response to years of challenges that have weakened medicines availability, including poor storage infrastructure, fragmented coordination, frequent stock-outs and product expiries.
He noted that the new facility would introduce a harmonised and technology-driven system capable of protecting the integrity of medicines from procurement to last-mile delivery.
The governor directed the Ministry of Health to ensure immediate migration of all pharmaceuticals and health commodities managed by government programmes and development partners into the new store, stressing that a centralised system was critical to safeguarding potency, safety and accountability.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Health, Global Fund and UNICEF for their technical and financial support, describing the project as evidence of what strategic collaboration can achieve in the health sector.
Commissioner for Health, Dr Muhammad Abdullahi Kainuwa, said the warehouse is the first purpose-built Central Medical Store in Jigawa’s history and would end the era of dependence on rented private facilities. He explained that the complex has capacity for about 25,000 pallets and is equipped with multiple cold rooms, modern handling equipment, digital inventory platforms, fire-safety installations and dedicated cold-chain vehicles to support statewide distribution.
Kainuwa added that the infrastructure would drastically reduce losses associated with poor storage conditions and theft while improving transparency in medicines management across secondary and primary health facilities.
Giving operational insight, the General Manager of Jigawa Pharmaceutical Company Limited, JiPHARMA, Pharm. Nasiru Alhassan, said the warehouse would significantly expand the state’s ability to plan and manage essential medicines. He explained that JiPHARMA, the agency responsible for pharmaceutical supply coordination, would oversee day-to-day operations of the facility.
Alhassan stated that the expanded storage space and controlled environmental conditions would strengthen annual procurement planning and ensure that products are received and stored according to global standards.
According to him, the installation of modern security systems, including CCTV surveillance and trained control-room personnel, would help curb diversion and prevent expiries that often result from overcrowded stores.
He noted that the project aligns with Governor Namadi’s agenda of achieving drug security for the growing population of Jigawa State, adding that reliable availability of medicines is central to effective healthcare delivery and public confidence in government facilities.
Stakeholders at the event described the commissioning as a turning point for the state’s health system, observing that efficient supply chains remain the backbone of immunisation programmes, maternal and child health services and disease control interventions, expressing optimism that the warehouse would not only serve Jigawa but also support regional collaboration in the North-West.
His Excellency, Gov Umar Namadi, governor of Jigawa State, flanked by other dignitaries, at the commissioning of the newly built ultra-modern Pharmagrade Warehouse in Dutse.
The interior part of the newly commissioned ultra-modern Pharmagrade Warehouse in Dutse, Jigawa State.
