Nigerian Governors Forum expresses concern that vaccination against Covid-19 has not begun

GOVERNORS of Nigeria's 36 states have expressed concern that despite the intensity of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic the country is yet to commence the mass vacation of its citizens.

Like most other nations, Nigeria is looking to begin vaccinate its citizens this month following the availability of vaccines. Dr Faisal Shuaib, the director of the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHDA), said that Nigeria is hoping to immunise 70% of the population who are at risk of the virus.

Government officials had announced details of their proposed Covid-19 vaccination plan with proposals to spend a total of $576m administering the vaccine to about 72m people at a cost of $8 a shot. However, with no movement so far, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has scheduled a meeting for Wednesday to deliberate on the development and other pressing national issues.

NGF spokesman, Abdulrazaq Bello-Barkindo, said the meeting would entertain a briefing from Delta State's Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, who heads the Governors’ Presidential Task Force (PTF) committee that relates with the federal government on Covid-19 issues. He added that Governor Okowa is expected to brief the governors on what they need to know on the Covid-19 vaccines and the way forward.

Mr Bello-Barkindo added that Governor Okowa would equally provide a panoramic view of the second wave of the pandemic at the virtual meeting. He pointed out that that the NGF chairman Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, will also brief the forum on his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari as well as update his colleagues on all pending matters that have remained inconclusive.

According to the United Nations data and the data made available by the National Population Commission Nigeria’s population is 206m and the target is to vaccinate 70% of its populace (144.2m) of its 206m people. At the rate of $8 for two doses per person, Nigeria's government will spend at least $576m to vaccinate 50% of the population of 72.1m people.