The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed hinted that Nigeria is likely to spend ₦396 Billion on vaccination. This was made known on Wednesday after the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Ahmed explained that the figure may significantly reduce as the Federal Government receives more donations of the vaccines from the private sector.
Nigeria received nearly 4 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, shipped via the COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO.
The arrival marked a historic step towards the goal to ensure equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally, in what will be the largest vaccine procurement and supply operation in history. The delivery is part of a first wave of arrivals in Nigeria that will continue in the coming days and weeks.
The ₦396bn proposed is expected to be used to purchase COVID-19 jabs to meet up with the Government’s plan to vaccinate 40% of the population this year and another 30% in 2022.