Minister of health Dr Osagie Ehanire, has revealed that the Federal Government will need 400 billion for the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines.
Ehanire said this while briefing the Nigerian Senate on Monday in Abuja.
The Minister of health stated that the Federal Government is ready for a COVID-19 vaccine that will save lives.
He also disclosed that about N400 billion would be required to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigerias over 200 million population, at $8 per person.
Ehanire added that N156 billion will be needed in 2021 while N200 billion will be used for vaccination in 2022.
The minister noted on the issue of storage that the COVID-19 vaccines will be stored in the same storage facilities (cold chains) used to store the polio vaccines.
The Senate President Ahmad Lawan also responded by expressing his lack of confidence in the Federal Ministry of Health. He said he is not sure they will effectively store and distribute the vaccines when they get to the country.
He re-assures Nigerians that the national assembly is ever ready to show support by funding the vaccines. However, more needs to be done on the part of the ministry.
