Getting COVID-19 Vaccine A Matter Of Utmost Concern, Says Osinbajo

NOVEMBER 13, 2020

Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, said that one of Nigeria’s main priorities is getting the COVID-19 vaccine and this is a matter of utmost concern to the Buhari-led administration.

Osinbajo stated this at the opening session of the virtual edition of the Paris Peace Forum which featured presentations by some Heads of State & government alongside international organizations, on a collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stating what Nigeria’s priorities in its COVID-19 response are, the Vice President said “the priorities of Nigeria in the post-COVID-19 era include improved healthcare and the economy. First, we need to keep the virus under control. While our guards are still firmly in place, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a matter of utmost concern.”

Read also: Buhari Lists 9 Priority Areas Ahead Of 2023

According to him, “On this, we are encouraged by the efforts of WHO and other international agencies working to ensure that vaccine delivery will be equitable across all countries, regardless of the priority of orders and ability to pay.”

Underscoring the importance of prioritizing interventions and investments in the healthcare system, the Vice President said “we are encouraging private investment to upscale our health sector, with emphasis on improved facilities and affordable universal healthcare.”

Continuing, Osinbajo noted, “We call for debt relief for these countries, and the extension of the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSI) at least until the end of 2021 as well as commercial debt relief where needed.”