President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, directed the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, to submit a progress report by the end of May 2022 on the indigenous production of vaccines in the country.
He gave the directive while receiving at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, the leadership of the Nigeria Integrated Biopharmaceuticals Industries Consortium, NIBI, led by Mr Vilarugel Cuyas, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Fredlab.
The President commended the NIBI consortium made up of European biotechnology companies Merck, Unizima, Rommelag, and Fredlab, who are collaborating with the Nigerian start-up PIA BioPharma to establish a world-class Bio-Pharma Industrial Complex for the manufacture of vaccines and essential therapeutics in Nigeria.
Stressing that his administration considered food and medicine sufficiency as national security issues, the President asked the health minister and his team to work closely with the consortium on the Federal Government’s support required for the actualization of the NIBI project within the next few months.
‘‘While the Ministry of Health continues to drive collaboration with investors for vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices, in a move towards self-sufficiency, I welcome the NIBI consortium’s desire to partner with the Federal Government in support of our agenda and look forward to the implementation of the NIBI project as it takes shape,’’ the President said.
Recounting the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Nigeria’s economy and health systems and how some nations with comparative advantages in being centres of bio-pharmaceutical productions adopted a “me-first” attitude towards securing their citizens, President Buhari said:‘‘I want Nigeria to make a bold statement in this field not just for reasons mentioned earlier, but because of its knock-on effects on our economy at large.’’
The President told his audience that Nigeria has learnt key lessons from the pandemic, including that countries must look inward for sustenance in food and medical supplies.
‘‘At the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nigeria was quick to respond to what seemed an existential threat, by strengthening the health system’s capacity to handle the pandemic – an initiative that continues till today in collaboration with the state government, private sector, and international partners.
‘‘Key lessons of the pandemic are that nations can be brought to their knees by disease outbreaks that cripple national and international trade, and that countries must be able to look inwards for sustenance in food and medical supplies. The benefit of this Administration’s early investment in agriculture came to light during this global turbulence.
‘‘However, we cannot say the same for essential medicines, health supplies and most importantly vaccines to protect our citizens. Increasing the capacity for in-country production of vaccines and medical supplies has therefore become a matter of not just urgency, but of national security.
‘‘As we saw, many nations who had developed comparative advantages in being centres of bio-pharmaceutical productions adopted a “me-first” attitude towards securing their citizens. These actions placed developing nations, particularly those in Africa at severe disadvantage.’’
The President noted that as part of the fallout and lessons learned from the crises, under his directive, the Minister of Health has been conducting local and international high-level consultations to seek access to the know-how and finance to revive domestic manufacturing of vaccines.
He added that the consultations had become more important as Nigeria prepares to fully transition from the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) support for the supply of vaccines by 2028.
‘‘Since we consider food and medicine sufficiency as national security issues, technical and financial investments and partnerships are priorities in our policy planning, with the assurance that Nigeria has the market and a pool of expert scientists to draw upon, from within and outside the country,’’ he said.
Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your website is fantastic, as well as the content!
Just wanna state that this is extremely helpful, Thanks for taking your time to write this.
I like what you guys are up also. Such clever work and reporting! Carry on the excellent works guys I’ve incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it’ll improve the value of my web site 🙂
I was very pleased to find this web-site.I wanted to thanks for your time for this wonderful read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
Needed to post you the very little note to help thank you again on the wonderful information you have documented above. This is quite extremely generous with people like you to give unreservedly just what many people might have supplied for an ebook to generate some bucks for themselves, primarily given that you might well have done it in case you wanted. The smart ideas additionally worked to be the easy way to know that other individuals have the same interest just like my personal own to realize a great deal more in regard to this issue. I know there are numerous more fun opportunities up front for many who read carefully your blog.
Hey there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers? I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hard on. Any suggestions?
You are my intake, I have few web logs and sometimes run out from to post .
After all, what a great site and informative posts, I will upload inbound link – bookmark this web site? Regards, Reader.
I’m not sure exactly why but this web site is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Definitely, what a splendid site and instructive posts, I will bookmark your website.Best Regards!
I like the valuable info you supply for your articles. I’ll bookmark your weblog and test again right here frequently. I am fairly sure I will be told many new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the following!
Thanks for the sensible critique. Me & my neighbor were just preparing to do some research about this. We got a grab a book from our local library but I think I learned more clear from this post. I am very glad to see such excellent information being shared freely out there.
I have learn several excellent stuff here. Certainly worth bookmarking for revisiting. I wonder how a lot effort you set to create the sort of fantastic informative site.
Hello. remarkable job. I did not expect this. This is a splendid story. Thanks!
I’m not sure why but this weblog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I’ll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself? Plz reply back as I’m looking to create my own blog and would like to know wheere u got this from. thanks
I have not checked in here for some time as I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my daily bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂
whoah this blog is wonderful i love reading your posts. Keep up the great work! You know, lots of people are hunting around for this information, you can aid them greatly.
Great goods from you, man. I’ve understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too great. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can’t wait to read much more from you. This is really a wonderful website.
After study a few of the blog posts on your website now, and I truly like your way of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark website list and will be checking back soon. Pls check out my web site as well and let me know what you think.
Hello, Neat post. There is an issue along with your site in internet explorer, may check this?K IE still is the marketplace leader and a large component of other folks will pass over your great writing because of this problem.
Howdy very cool site!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing .. I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds additionally…I am glad to search out so many helpful information here within the submit, we need develop more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing.
777941 195507There couple of fascinating points at some point in this posting but I dont determine if these folks center to heart. There is some validity but Let me take hold opinion until I check into it further. Great write-up , thanks and then we want more! Combined with FeedBurner in addition 474942
596023 793828Attractive portion of content material. I just stumbled upon your weblog and in accession capital to assert that I get in fact loved account your weblog posts. Anyway I will probably be subscribing to your augment and even I success you get admission to constantly swiftly. 670252