Governors’ Forum seeks local production of COVID-19 vaccines

The Nigerian Governors’ Forum has urged the federal government to begin to look into ways of manufacturing COVID-19 locally, instead of depending solely on vaccines procured from abroad.

Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who doubles as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum, made the call in an interview with State House Correspondents, soon after he met with President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday.

Fayemi disclosed that already there are plans in that regard with a pharmaceutical company but the effort needs to be accelerated.

He said: “On procurement of vaccines, our view is that ultimately, we really need to ramp up manufacturing of vaccines locally. It’s okay that COVAX that Nigeria is part of is going to be delivering some vaccines to us.

“As we understand the first 100,000, and then 43 million and ultimately 165 million doses. But there is nothing as good as having the ability to manufacture our own vaccines locally.

“And we understand that there is a partnership with May & Baker, which is important for the Federal Government to really accelerate so that we can produce the vaccines here in Nigeria and not be dependent on what is coming from other parts.”

The Governor commended the Presidential Task Force for choosing to use President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as promotional vehicles, for the administration of COVID-19 vaccine on Nigerians when available.

“This is a routine meeting with Mr. President but this is the first meeting in the year, to review a number of issues that are of interest to me and my colleagues, the governors. Security, economy, vaccine management, and the general outlook for 2021.

“Well, for us as governors, the number one priority in vaccine management relates to public health and risk communication. I commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for at least wanting to use Mr. President and the Vice President as their publicity vehicles for reassuring those who may have their doubts about vaccines that there are no threats to them. You know there are cultural and religious concerns in various parts and we are at the state level, we are reviewing that with all of our colleagues.

“But the good thing is, Mr. President has agreed with me that he would convey to the PTF the necessity of using other influencers, maybe the Chief Imams, the Bishops, top musicians, our sports personalities. Because, the more of such people are seen taking the vaccines the more the likelihood of resistance will break down in our various localities. So, we discussed that.

“Well, the federal government is already part of the WHO-GAVI Alliance-COVAX partnership and from what we understand from the PTF, vaccines will come from that alliance.

“Some of it from Pfizer in the first instance and then maybe from other various producers of the vaccines later. But there is no clarity as yet as to when these vaccines will arrive in Nigeria. So, one of the issues raised with Mr. President is the need to accelerate the delivery of vaccines to the country, so that it will be available to our people,” he stated.

Preparation
Dr. Fayemi used the opportunity to call on the 36 State governments to gear up for the task ahead, by putting in place the needed storage facilities, before the arrival of the vaccines.

“Those of us at the receiving end in the states, know that this is an issue we also need to ramp up our own preparedness, in terms of getting our states ready for vaccine storage particularly, the freezers and cold chains that will be required for that process. We need to get ourselves ready at the state level. The federal government can procure but we will receive and administer in our various states and there is a lot of work to be done in that respect,” he said.

Gubernatorial Example
The leader of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum disclosed that all Governors are ready to serve as examples, by being the first to receive COVID-19 vaccines in their various States, so as to convince their citizens to receive the same.

“Absolutely. We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines would work.  Don’t forget, we have a lot of experience with this. The Governors Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience.

“We have worked with the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Federal Ministry of Health and will be happy to work with NCDC, PTF, the primary healthcare development agency on this as well. So, we would take a lead as well in our various states.

“But we also know that there is a range of approaches to take, the health approach is there. Because for us at the Governors Forum is not just a health issue, it is also a security issue and it is an economic issue too. We would work in partnership, we are involved with PTF, we have a representation at the PTF and we will work with them generally on them,” he said.

National Security
Commenting on whether there will be an improvement in the security situation of the country this year, the Governor said President Buhari assured him that there will be a great improvement.

He said: “Obviously, you know I won’t go into the nitty-gritty of what Mr. President told me on security. But he said clearly that help is on the way. Mr. President is very determined that this year will see a rapid reduction in the free access that bandits, kidnappers, and criminals have had in the country.

“I believe there is a whole range of strategies that he is putting in place in order to address that. I have also expressed to him the commitment of Governors to step up to the plate, both in terms of providing support for our security agencies and also sensitizing our population as well as address the root causes of some of these crimes in our states.”

“So, it’s a partnership. He is our commander in chief, we are his field commanders and insecurity is ravaging the land collectively. So, we all have to do whatever we can to reduce it and to work in collaboration with the Federal Government.”

Nnenna.O