The Cross River State Government has sealed a strategic partnership with the Global Fund and the National Product Supply Chain Management Program (NPSCMP) to modernize its State Pharmaceutical Warehouse into a world-class, “Pharma-Grade” facility. The project is designed to upgrade the state’s medical supply chain infrastructure to meet stringent international storage and security standards, positioning Cross River as a model for healthcare logistics in Nigeria.
Speaking on the initiative, the Honorable Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Ebge Ayuk, PhD, described the project as a milestone achievement of the state administration’s proactive policy to attract global partnerships.
“The Governor is very pleased with this collaboration. We have a deliberate policy to attract and sustain partnerships, and the number of partners coming into Cross River has increased significantly because we have created an enabling environment for their work,” Dr. Ayuk stated. He emphasized the importance of future-proofing the facility, specifically integrating infrastructure to support medical drone distribution.
“Government also has a policy of ensuring ownership of new technologies, such as using drones for drug distribution. Our warehouses must be central, adequate, and explicitly designed to accommodate unmanned aerial support,” the Commissioner added.
Representing the executive leadership, Mrs. Uduak Spencer Efem, Special Adviser to the Governor on Nursing Education, highlighted the state’s administrative readiness and security guarantees.
“Since His Excellency assumed office, we have maintained open doors. We assure partners of unrestricted access and total security for all operations. We are eager to see contractors mobilize to the site,” Mrs. Efem said, noting that this open-door policy was key to securing the intervention.
Pharm. (Dr.) Ezong Ezong, Director of Pharmaceutical Services and lead for pharmaceutical logistics, explained the need to upgrade the warehouse to meet “Pharma-Grade” standards and maintain eligibility for international medical grants.
“Several states have warehouses, but not all meet pharma-grade standards. This upgrade ensures that international organizations can continue storing medical commodities with us confidently,” Dr. Ezong noted.
Providing the technical roadmap, Architect Bolaji, NPSCMP Consultant Architect, revealed that Cross River was prioritized for the upgrade due to its proactive leadership despite limited nationwide funding.
“I have promised that if only one warehouse can be upgraded, it will be in Cross River. The facility will occupy the entire stretch along Barracks Road, and the requested drone infrastructure will be included. We aim to have a contractor on-site within the next two months,” Architect Bolaji stated.
The engagement was also attended by Mrs. Vanessa Emon, Director of Administration, senior pharmacists from the Ministry of Health and State Medical Stores, as well as Youth Corp members serving within the department.
Kingsley Agim/Jessica Ubi
