Nigeria Needs N400 Billion For COVID-19 Vaccination, Says Minister

Posted by African Examiner African News, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Tuesday, December 22nd, 2020

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, has said that the Federal Government was substantially ready for a successful COVID-19 vaccination to save lives of citizens.

However, he said the ministry needs about N400 billion to vaccinate the whole country.

Ehanire made this known on Monday in Abuja while briefing the Senate leadership on the Federal Government plans to procure COVID-19 vaccines worth N400 billion for citizens.

The minister noted that the country which had successfully fought polio, would use the same storage facilities (cold chains) to store the COVID-19 vaccines.

He urged the Senate to have confidence in the plan for COVID-19 vaccine campaign.

He said that about N400 billion would be required to vaccinate 70 percent of Nigeria’s 211 million population, at eight dollars per person.

According to him, N156 billion will be needed in 2021 while N200 billion in 2022.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan expressed doubt over the ability of the Federal Ministry of Health to effectively store and distribute the COVID-19 vaccines when they arrive in the country.

Lawan said the National Assembly was ready to support the funding of adequate vaccines to save Nigerians.

“I have not been convinced with your presentation that we are ready to bring in the vaccines.

“You have to do much more to convince me that we are ready,” he added.