COVID-19: We’re Working On Vaccine Procurement – FG

The federal government says it’s putting in place proper arrangements and fashioning out modalities for the procurement of vaccine.

Zainab Ahmed, the minister of finance, budget and national planning, disclosed this on Tuesday at the virtual public presentation of the 2021 Budget.

Ekohotblog gathered that the minister disclosed that the government was working and deliberating on the kind and amount of COVID-19 vaccines to acquire.

She explained that the finance and health ministries would meet to discuss and finalize an amount to be earmarked for vaccine procurement within the next two weeks.

“We agreed that the effort needed to be done so that we have clarity as to whether the provisions to the budget will be adequate or we have to make additional provisions by way of a special supplementary budget to make more provisions for COVID-19 vaccinations,” she said.

The finance minister reiterated the commitment of lawmakers to providing a supplementary budget for additional spending on COVID-19 vaccines if need arises.

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In his remarks, Ben Akabueze, budget office director general, disclosed Nigeria is expecting donations of COVID-19 vaccines that will cover 20% of its population and then procure additional 50% of its vaccine requirement to achieve herd immunity.

As of Tuesday, Nigeria has 101,331 confirmed coronavirus cases; 80,491 patients have been discharged and 1,361 deaths.