The Nigerian Senate has warned that failure by the Federal Govt. to manage COVID-19 vaccines to its residents might result in different nations imposing a travel ban on Nigerians.
The warning was contained in a movement on Thursday moved at plenary by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Ibrahim Oloriegbe, who lamented that other than the pledge by the World Alliance for Vaccine Initiative to supply Covid-19 vaccines, Nigeria had not produced a plan for the procurement, distribution, and administration of the vaccines to Nigerians
Titled “Pressing want for Nigeria to acquire and administer COVlD-19 vaccines to its residents”, the movement, which was adopted by the Senate, suggested that to keep away from a worldwide travel ban on Nigerians, the Federal govt. ought to make budgetary provision to acquire and administer COVID-19 vaccines.
Senator Oloriegbe, who argued earlier than the Senate that Nigeria had no plan for the procurement, distribution, and administration of the vaccine, additionally expressed concern that compliance with COVID-19 preventive measures such hand washing, carrying of face masks, and social distancing had diminished.
Oloriegbe additionally advised the Senate that whereas some nations had authorized vaccines for COVID-19 and had been administering the vaccine to their residents; many others had accomplished plans on the procurement, distribution, and administration of the vaccines to their residents.
He stated; “This assist will cowl solely the price of the vaccines without caring for logistics necessities for distribution and administration.
“Regardless of the change within the epidemiology traits of the illness, the monetary plan developed by the nation and World Financial institution in April 2020 to fund the response to the pandemic was nonetheless being applied without taking due cognizance to the modifications by re-allocating the funds to vaccine procurement.
“Failure to manage vaccines to Nigerians will outcome within the nation not with the ability to management the COVID-19 an infection and a potential ban on traveling by Nigerians could also be instituted by nations worldwide.
“The consequence of non-administration of the vaccines to Nigerians will embrace worsening social and financial conditions, ” Oloriegbe added.
