President Muhammadu Buhari, on Friday in Brussels, Belgium, welcomed the designation of Nigeria as one of six countries in Africa designated as manufacturing bases for the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a statement, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja, Buhari also called for collaboration to address the effects of the pandemic.
Shehu said Buhari was speaking at the ROUNDTABLE ON HEALTH SYSTEMS AND VACCINE PRODUCTION at the ongoing 6th Europe-Africa Summit.
The President said: “I am delighted to receive the news of Nigeria being selected among the MRNA vaccine technology transfer recipients.
“We will make sure that the best possible use of the opportunity is made. Nigeria also offers to host the proposed Biomanufacturing Training Center Organization (OMS).
“We are committed to providing support so that the center works in the shortest possible time.
”Consequently, we are prioritizing the manufacture of vaccines on the African continent and the exchange and transfer of technology and intellectual property rights.
“We call on the EU to support the WTO towards the conclusion of negotiations on exemption from intellectual property rights to ensure that vaccine manufacturing can start early in Africa.”
While praising foreign partners’ efforts to make the COVID-19 vaccine available, he urged them to do more, as less than 10 percent of the African population had received the shot.
He stressed that this situation could negatively affect Africa’s development projections.
“We commend the efforts and support of Team Europe for the substantial contribution to the COVAX facility and the EU contribution to the vaccination campaign in Africa.
“But currently, less than 10 percent of Africa’s population has been vaccinated, compared to more than 60 percent of total vaccinations in the EU, at the end of 2021.
“Sadly, millions of African citizens have yet to receive their first dose of vaccines, while their counterparts in Europe and other parts of the world are preparing for their third booster shot.
“When Africa finally received around 700 million doses of vaccines before the end of 2021 under the COVAX Fund, it represented a considerable shortfall for a population of 1.383 million.
“Nigeria strongly believes that these low numbers could not only cause a future health crisis, but could also negatively affect economic growth and our ability to achieve the African Union Agenda 2063,” the president said.
The Nigerian leader called for closer collaboration with the EU to deal with the effects of the pandemic on the African continent.
“The severe impact of the pandemic has once again highlighted the vulnerabilities of humanity and the weakness of health systems around the world.
“To mitigate future devastating health pandemics, there is an urgent need for increased funding for healthcare systems in Africa and increased local manufacturing of materials and equipment throughout the value chain.
“This can only happen with the cooperation that would close the gaps in the health systems of our continent.”
He urged European partners to focus more on investments aimed at improving African health systems and vaccine production.
According to him, existing AU frameworks like the New Partnership for African Development and the national comparative advantages of some African countries are there to form the basis for such investments.
