President Muhammadu Buhari led government has revealed that the first batch of COVID-19 in Nigeria is expected to arrive the nation between March or April 2021.
The development was made public in Abuja on Monday, January 25 by the Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing, Naija News reports.
The minister said the government is in negotiation with many parties and planning for flawless execution using recent experience from polio eradication in the face of a global scramble for vaccines.
Ehanire revealed that the country had just ordered from a few portions of the AVATT of the Africa Union Commission to avoid wastage. Adding that he the country is exploring all options to ensure the vaccination of 70 per cent of Nigerians by 2023.
He noted that apart from the 100,000 doses allocated as the first wave to Nigeria by the COVAX facility, the government also placed orders for 10 million doses through the AVATT.
“Nigeria has an indigenous vaccine candidate which will require considerable investment to get through trials. We shall seek sponsorship to take the initiative further”, the minister added.
Meanwhile, the federal government on Monday announced the extension of phase three of the national COVID-19 lockdown by one month.
Naija News reports that the development was announced by the chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha during the weekly task force briefing in Abuja.