YODMA plans drug manufacturing and new warehouses to boost healthcare

By Muhammad Maitela, Damaturu

Yobe state government is taking a big step to enhance its healthcare system with plans for a new drug manufacturing unit and a state-of-the-art warehouse in Gashu’a.
This exciting initiative was shared by Pharmacist Abdul-Aziz Garba Mohammed, the Executive Secretary of the Yobe State Drugs and Medical Consumables Management Agency (YODMA), during a presentation to the Yobe State House of Assembly’s Joint Standing Committees, where he defended the agency’s budget proposal for 2026.
According to Suleiman Gambo Bakoro, Agency Public Relations Officer, YODMA said Garba Mohammed explained that the proposed Drugs Manufacturing Unit (DMU) in Damaturu and the new warehouse in Gashu’a aim to boost drug availability, strengthen distribution, and support the state’s healthcare system.
He pointed out that this effort is in line with the Federal Government’s goal for state agencies to meet national standards, as well as the National Drug Distribution Guidelines, which call for the creation of large distribution centers.
The Executive Secretary noted the completion of a pharmaceutical-grade warehouse in Damaturu and the decentralization of operations to zonal warehouses in Gashu’a, Nguru, and Potiskum in 2025.
“This strategic expansion has made medicines more accessible to health facilities, cut down transit times, and allowed health workers to spend more time caring for patients,” Mohammed remarked.
The agency also provided insight into its financial model, while YODMA isn’t generating revenue at the moment, its founding law lays the groundwork for future financial sustainability.
The response from the legislature was encouraging. Hon. Sanda Kara Bade, the Chairman of the House Committee, expressed that the proposal “reflects the needs and aspirations of constituencies across the state” and assured that the Assembly is dedicated to prioritizing the budget to benefit the health sector.