Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Adewole Adebayo, had said that Nigeria’s presidency is not for elderly people.

Adebayo made the assertion in an interview programme on Symfoni TV, aired on Wednesday.

He likened Nigerian presidency to football, noting that no one could play football very well at the age of 80 years.

“I’m not being an ageist but Nigeria’s presidency is not a place for elderly people, because however much you are passionate and you love football, you cannot join Super Eagles at the age of 80 years.

“The President of Nigeria needs as much stamina as a coach or captain of the Super Eagles. So, I don’t think that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s only way to serve Nigeria is to be president.

“Late former President Muhammadu Buhari himself said, when he was elected in 2015, that he wished he had gotten the position when he was younger,” Adebayo said.

The federal government and the Global Fund on Tuesday inaugurated the expanded Abuja Premier Medical Warehouse (APMW) to strengthen the storage and distribution of health commodities nationwide.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, described the facility as a critical national asset that would improve commodity security and support the delivery of healthcare services.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Daju Kachollom, Mr Pate said the project aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at expanding storage capacity and improving the distribution of essential medicines.

“The significance of this project cannot be overstated, as it represents a leap forward in ensuring that public health products, vaccines and medical supplies maintain integrity,” he said.

He said the inauguration is to showcase achievements recorded through the partnership between the federal government and the Global Fund while reinforcing commitments to supply chain reforms.

Mr Pate assured the Global Fund that the federal government would provide the resources required to maintain the facility and its assets.

He noted that delays in the supply of health commodities could negatively affect service delivery, underscoring the importance of adequate storage infrastructure.

The minister commended development partners, including UNICEF and the Gates Foundation, for their continued support of Nigeria’s health sector.

“To the Global Fund, the support goes beyond infrastructure. It represents a commitment to a shared vision of equity, access and excellence in healthcare,” he said.

Mr Pate also urged officials responsible for managing the facility to ensure its sustainability through diligence, accountability and effective utilisation.

“Today’s commission is a reminder that with determination, partnership and innovation, we can overcome challenges and build a robust health system capable of delivering quality and affordable healthcare for all,” he said.

Successful collaboration

In her opening remarks, Ms Kachollom described the commissioning as a testament to successful collaboration among government, development partners and stakeholders.

Represented by the Director, Food and Drugs Services, Adeola Olufowolabi-Yusuf, she said the project demonstrated what could be achieved through collective commitment to improving citizens’ health and wellbeing.

“This moment is a testament to what can be achieved when government, development partners and stakeholders unite in the shared mission of improving the health and well-being of our citizens,” she said.

Ms Kachollom described the expansion of the warehouse as a game-changer for Nigeria’s healthcare system.

She expressed appreciation to the Global Fund for supporting the project and acknowledged UNICEF, the warehouse contractor and Land Designs Ltd. for their contributions to its successful completion.

Also speaking, Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund, said strong supply chains depended not only on infrastructure but also on people, systems and governance.

“It is not just about a building or available infrastructure. You need trained and committed people, good management and governance, technology and systems,” he said.

Mr Sands said the warehouse would provide a critical foundation for a stronger and more efficient supply chain capable of delivering essential health commodities when needed.

In his goodwill message, Charles Lolika, Deputy Representative, Operations, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said the expanded warehouse and 22 state medical warehouses would improve storage capacity, inventory management, commodity security and distribution efficiency.

According to him, the facilities are expected to benefit an estimated 149 million people across 21 states, including about 68 million children.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to The Global Fund for its generous funding support, which made this critical investment in health infrastructure possible,” he said.

Mr Lolika added that the partnership between UNICEF and the Global Fund was also supporting the upgrade of more than 150 primary healthcare centres across the country.

He said the initiative demonstrated the value of coordinated efforts among government, funding partners, implementing agencies and technical service providers.

The World Health Organisation Representative in Nigeria, Pavel Ursu, described the warehouse as a foundational investment for the country’s health system.

“When we think about the warehouse, this is a foundational element and building block for a health system, and it is definitely not to serve only three diseases,” he said.

Mr Ursu said the project reflected years of consistent implementation and commitment by stakeholders involved in its execution.

He commended UNICEF for successfully navigating the challenges associated with major infrastructural projects and delivering the facility.

Mr Ursu said stakeholders must sustain the momentum generated by the project to achieve measurable improvements in health outcomes.

Also speaking, Nkata Chuku, Deputy Director, Health Systems Strengthening, Gates Foundation Nigeria, said commodity security remained central to reducing deaths among women and children and combating infectious diseases.

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Mr Chuku said the investment aligned with the foundation’s efforts to strengthen health systems and improve last-mile delivery of health commodities.

He expressed optimism that the investment would improve the availability of critical commodities in health facilities across Nigeria and strengthen supply chain visibility nationwide.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the warehouse serves as a central hub for storing and distributing essential medicines, vaccines and other public health commodities.

Its expansion is expected to boost national storage capacity, improve inventory management and strengthen the distribution of life-saving supplies nationwide as part of efforts to upgrade 22 warehouses across 21 states.