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From Jan To March… How FG Repeatedly Changed Delivery Date Of COVID-19 Vaccine In Nigeria

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3 years ago

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More than once, the federal government has changed the delivery date of the COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria.

On Wednesday, Ghana emerged as the first African country to receive the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine — despite Nigeria’s higher infections and casualties figure.

According to the Africa Centre for Disease Control, as of February 22, Ghana recorded a total of 80,253 infections, with 577 deaths and 73,018 recoveries. Meanwhile, Nigeria recorded 152,074 infections, 1,839 deaths, and 128,619 recoveries in the same period.

VACCINE DELIVERY DATE KEEPS CHANGING

On December 16, the federal government had said Nigerians will start receiving vaccines by January 2021.

Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, had said the government was working towards getting them “as soon as they are available”.

“We signed up for advanced market participation in COVAX. So, if we will be able to get our own, I think it will be in January,” he had said.

COVAX, which is co-led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI), was launched in 2020 to mobilize resources for innovative and equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.

Prior to the health minister’s remarks, a statement released by the ministry of foreign affairs quoted Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, chair of the board of GAVI, as saying “most of the African countries, Nigeria included, will be able to get access to some of these vaccines” by the end of January.

On January 5, Faisal Shuaib, executive director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), also spoke in the same vein.

He said Nigeria will receive at least 100,000 doses of the Pfizer and BioNTech approved vaccines.

While the news raised optimism among Nigerians and other stakeholders, especially healthcare workers, the hope would soon falter following a fresh announcement.

Speaking at an inspection tour of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Ehanire said Nigeria may receive COVID-19 vaccines by the end of February, indicating a delay.

DELIVERY OF VACCINES ‘NOT IN OUR HANDS’

And just when February seemed like a done deal, Ehanire on Wednesday said Nigeria may start taking delivery of its COVID-19 vaccine supply from March, representing another setback.

Speaking after the weekly federal executive council (FEC) meeting, the minister admitted that the supply of COVID-19 vaccines does not lie in the hands of the government.

“It is the hand of the person who is bringing it to us,” Ehanire said.

Commenting on the delay in receiving the COVAX vaccine despite assurances of getting it in February, he said: “Now, the COVAX will start delivering to African countries before the end of February. That’s what they told us. But they didn’t tell us which country is first or which is second, which is third.

“So, COVAX begins to deliver before the end of February. And we hope that before the end of this month, it would be our turn or latest by the beginning of next month.”

Given the latest announcement, it is hard to bank on a particular date when Nigerians will eventually start receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. For now, the best thing to do is to stay safe and masked-up, hoping they arrive soon.

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BIG STORY

JUST IN: President Tinubu, Shettima, Governors, Other VIPs To Pay Toll At Airports

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6 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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As part of the Federal Government drive to boost its revenue, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has mandated that President Bola Tinubu, Vice President, Kashim Shettima, Governors and other dignitaries henceforth pay the required fees at tollgates whenever they use the nation’s airports.

The approval was made days after it was revealed that at least 82 percent of airport tollgate revenue is lost through non-paying Very Important Personalities (VIPs).

 

More to come…

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BIG STORY

How Content Creator Was Shot Dead On Set In Abuja Over N2,000

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7 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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A fast-rising Nigerian content creator, Chidike Emmanuel, has been murdered by gunmen in Mpape, Abuja.

It was gathered that the skit maker was among six persons attacked by the gunmen last Saturday in the federal capital territory.

According to The Cable, source familiar with the incident said that Emmanuel was killed at the location of a project he was supposed to feature in.

The insider disclosed that the gunmen initially demanded money in order to allow them to shoot at the location.

The content creator was said to have given the armed men N2,000. However, what transpired that led to the shooting of the cast members remains unknown.

It was gathered some of the cast members who ran for safety suffered injuries.

Some users close to Emmanuel took to X to mourn the deceased while demanding justice.

“Chidike Emmanuel Obinna I have known you since 2018 You are such a calm and kind soul You couldn’t attend my wedding because you were far away but you sent me your gift #Justiceforchidi,” Helen wrote.

On her part, Rakeli added: “Obinna Chidike Emmanuel, please don’t die please. Pick my calls, reply my chat and tell me all that I am hearing is a lie. Biko I am loosing my mind”.

Efforts to reach Josephine Adeh, the FCT police spokesperson, to comment on the matter have been abortive.

Calls and messages to Adeh’s phone have not been responded to, as of the time of this report.

The development comes a few weeks after Junior Pope passed away after a boat accident on the River Niger in Asaba, Delta state.

The actor and some crew members were heading to a movie location when the boat accident occurred.

His family disclosed that the actor’s final rites will be held on May 17.

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Police Arrest Man ‘Strapped With Bomb’ Inside Bank In Plateau

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11 hours ago

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May 14, 2024

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Security operatives have apprehended a man strapped with Person Borne Improvised Explosive Device (SPBIED) inside a bank in Plateau.

The individual was arrested at a bank in Dadin Kowa town, which is in Jos South LGA of the state, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency journal that focuses on the Lake Chad region. According to the article, the incident happened on May 13.

Makama was informed by intelligence sources that the individual intended to set off the explosives at the bank, but a vigilante officer noticed him and alerted the authorities.

According to the publication, an enraged mob encircled the suspect after he was captured and demanded that he be murdered.

Makama could not confirm if the suspect is connected to the fighters of the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP).

The publication added that the suspect is in the custody of the police and currently undergoing investigation.

Nigeria has been battling insurgency for two decades, with suicide bombings, displacement of entire communities and kidnapping for ransom by the terrorists, recorded in that span.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said about 83 children, mostly girls, were used as human bombs in 2017 alone.

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