Zipline has announced plans to expand its healthcare delivery operations in Nigeria by establishing 12 additional distribution centres across the country by 2028. The company’s Nigeria Country Director, Anthonio Pinheiro, said the expansion would increase Zipline’s network from three operational hubs to 15 facilities, connecting up to 20,000 health centres and providing access to medical supplies for nearly 100 million Nigerians.
The company, which currently operates in Kaduna, Cross River and Bayelsa states, said it now serves over 1,300 health facilities and about six million people through its autonomous drone delivery system. According to Pinheiro, Zipline is shifting from isolated state partnerships toward building a nationwide healthcare logistics infrastructure supported by collaborations with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and the United States government.
Zipline said its AI powered delivery network is helping to address persistent medical supply shortages in rural communities by delivering vaccines, blood supplies, anti venom and other essential medicines within 30 to 45 minutes of requests. The company also stated that its operations have contributed to reduced vaccine stockouts and improved maternal healthcare outcomes in supported areas.
Pinheiro added that Nigeria’s regulatory environment for drone operations has become more collaborative despite security concerns around unmanned aerial vehicles. He noted that beyond healthcare, the company may eventually expand its infrastructure into agriculture, e commerce and broader logistics services as its Nigerian operations continue to grow.