Federal Government reiterates commitment to curtail the spread of Covid-19

The Federal Government of Nigeria reiterated its commitment to deploy all resources to curtail the spread of Covid-19 and have access to safe vaccines across the country.

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The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha stated this while speaking at the Town Hall Meeting on COVID-19 Vaccination review meeting for the North Central Geopolitical Zone, held in the capital of Nasarawa State.

The zonal meeting was organized by the Presidential Steering Committee COVID-19 in conjunction with the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Abuja.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19, Mr. Boss Mustapha said that government at all levels would continue to develop measures towards the control and containment of the spread of the virus among people.

He said that “As of April 20th, 2021, over a 1.1million Nigerians, representing 55.2 % of the eligible persons targeted in this current phase, have received their first dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine”. Boss noted

Furthermore, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib said that the meeting aims to discuss COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria, explore relevant perspectives and reach a consensus that will enrich the ongoing efforts by the government to ensure that Nigerians are protected from the disease.

“Our coming together today as a community of North Central Nigeria, aligns with our core principles that it is not enough to offer vaccines to Nigerians, we must also do the hard work and provide the resources to ensure that Nigerians are provided with the correct information required to make an informed decision about accepting the vaccine”. Dr. Shuaib added

The Host Governor, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State said that sensitizing the people of the North Central Zone on the importance of taking the COVID-19 vaccine is appropriate and sensible because of the need to take proactive measures for the prevention of the spread of the deadly virus.

According to Governor Sule, “The Federal Government of Nigeria flagged off the administration of the AstraZeneca vaccine precisely on the 12th March 2021 in its commitment to fight the COVID-19 pandemic”.

“By the same token, Nasarawa State COVAX Technical Working Group (TWG) received a total of 61,350 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine on the 9th March 2021, thereby making Nasarawa State be one of the first two (2) States to commence the first phase roll out of COVID-19 vaccination”. Governor Sule said.

The meeting is in recognition of the need to pursue a continuous and constructive dialogue with stakeholders at the National, State, LGA, and community levels in the fight against COVID-19.