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No short shelf doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria — FG
The Federal Government says that there are no short shelf doses of COVID-19 vaccine donations in the country.
The Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, (NPHCDA), Dr Faisal Shuaib, said this in Abuja, at the official handover of about 2.6 million doses of Johnson Johnson COVID-19 vaccines.
Shuaib said that the vaccines were now promptly shipped and distributed through the COVAX and AVAT facilities to reduce the risk of expiration.
The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that the vaccines were donated to Nigeria by the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Amb Jamie Christoff.
Following the expiration of one million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria, the Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, announced that the country would no longer accept vaccines with short shelf life.
The committee had said that such vaccines mounted undue pressure on health workers to administer them.
It also took the decision to destroy one million of such vaccines publicly, to assure Nigerians that there was no intention to use them.
Shuaib said that donors now recognised the need to give away vaccines before their expiration dates.
According to him, they have also created a pathway for prompt shipment and distribution through the COVAX and AVAT facilities to curb the risk of expiration.
“There is now better coordination, and the COVID-19 vaccines in the country are not expired nor have short shelf lives.
“The Federal Government, through the NPHCDA and other partners, has continued to ensure that the country received vaccines with a long expiration date,” he said.
He said that 62 million vaccine doses were available in the country at the moment, adding that 40 million more were being expected.
While commending the Government of Canada for providing “the much-needed support”, shuaib said that the donation was critical to helping the country ramp up its vaccination rollout process.
“Johnson & Johnson offers a single-dose opportunity for full vaccination, which means if you take one dose of the vaccine, you are regarded as a fully vaccinated person.
“However, we strongly recommend a booster dose after 2 months of taking the initial dose to strengthen your level of immunity against COVID-19.
“A second dose of the vaccine serves as the booster dose,” he said.
According to him, “we are in a full campaign mode in which COVID-19 vaccines are ready-made available in the health facilities and other designated places.
“They are also brought by our vaccination teams to your doorsteps. We are leveraging on our polio eradication experience to fight COVID-19.
He expressed confidence that with the kind of support received from the Canadian Government, Nigeria would sooner than expected, be able to put COVID-19 behind.
On the SCALES 3.0 strategy, Shuaib said it offered opportunities for childhood vaccination and other Primary Health Care (PHC) services for Nigerians alongside the COVID-19 vaccination.
“Parents can take their eligible children for vaccination against polio, yellow fever, measles and other vaccine-preventable childhood diseases in the same locations where the adults receive COVID-19 vaccines.
“Our mobile teams are also in possession of all these vaccines when they visit your homes.
“Please welcome them and present yourselves and your eligible children for vaccination as may be applicable,” he said.
Christoff, while donating the vaccines, said it was his first assignment as an Ambassador to Nigeria.
The Ambassador recalled that the Canadian Government had earlier donated more than 800,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Nigeria.
He said that the donation was in fulfilment of his country’s commitment to supporting developing countries in ramping up vaccination against the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to him, in 2020, the world was faced with the challenge to develop an effective vaccine.
“In 2021, the challenges evolved to the production and distribution of the vaccines. Today in 2022, we need to put this vaccine within people’s reach,” he said.
Dr Eduardo Celades Blanco, UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Health, used the opportunity to call on eligible Nigerians who were yet to be vaccinated to do so.
“If we keep up with the vaccination, the likely scenario is that even though the virus continues to evolve, the severity of the disease will reduce over time.
“Immunity increases due to vaccination,” he said.
While appreciating the Canada for the donation, he said the gesture came at a time it was most needed.
He commended the recent MIC/NIC survey on vaccination, stressing that in spite of the pandemic, the country was only one of the few globally that recorded improved Immunisation coverage.
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The World Health Organisation (WHO) Representative to Nigeria, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, also commended the country’s COVID-19 mass vaccination strategy.
Mulombo was represented by Dr Kofi Boateng, EPI Focal Point, Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
He said that other African countries were already looking up to Nigeria to learn how to roll out their vaccinations campaign.
NAN reports that as of Thursday, 40.7 million eligible persons have received the first dose of vaccines, while 28.6 million persons fully vaccinated.
This represents 25.6 per cent of the eligible population.
Meanwhile, 2.6 million fully vaccinated persons have received their booster doses.
Also, the SCALES 3.0 strategy enjoins the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to step up intensive actions to ensure that every eligible adult and child is vaccinated.
The Federal Government has also designed a performance-based incentive to improve the uptake of COVID-19 vaccines and other PHC services in the states and the communities.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed optimism about Nigeria’s economic trajectory following the release of the third-quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The report revealed that Nigeria’s GDP grew by 3.46% in Q3 2024, an improvement from the 3.19% recorded in the second quarter, signaling continued recovery and growth amidst economic reforms.
He described the development as a sign that his administration’s reforms are yielding results while reaffirming his commitment to building a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
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In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, President Tinubu expressed optimism about the country’s economic prospects but acknowledged that more work remains.
“I am excited by the latest report from the National Bureau of Statistics that our economy grew in the third quarter more than last quarter and even beyond projected estimates,” Tinubu said. “While I welcome this development, the latest figure also shows the much work that needs to be done. We won’t rest until Nigerians feel the positive impacts in their pockets and experience a better living standard.”
The President reaffirmed his administration’s pledge to achieve a $1 trillion economy by 2030, emphasizing that an upcoming rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP in 2025 would highlight structural changes and pave the way for shared prosperity.
“Once the economy is rebased by early 2025 to capture its dynamism and record significant changes that have occurred in different sectors, the country will be on its way to shared prosperity,” he stated.
Tinubu also pointed to proposed tax reforms as a critical tool for driving equity and inclusive growth. He highlighted plans to ease the tax burden on small businesses and tackle the “headquarters effect,” where states housing corporate headquarters disproportionately benefit from tax revenues.
“The proposed tax reforms demonstrate our resolve to reduce the tax burden on small businesses and promote equity,” Tinubu said.
The President reiterated his commitment to ensuring that economic growth translates into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians, stressing that his administration remains focused on creating opportunities and reducing poverty across the country.
In a summit in Fiuggi, Italy, G7 foreign ministers are meeting for two days to discuss a variety of global challenges, including the recent arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who is hosting the conference, stated on Monday that he does not expect difficulty in reaching a consensus on the matter.
“It’s not an immediate and actual problem. I don’t think Netanyahu will come to Italy or anywhere else,” Tajani told Corriere della Sera, downplaying the potential significance of the arrest warrant.
The ICC issued arrest warrants on Thursday for Netanyahu, recently dismissed Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Hamas military leader Mohammed Deif, following allegations of war crimes connected to the ongoing Gaza conflict.
While Israel’s allies have criticized the decision, ICC member states are expected to uphold the warrants, despite ongoing debates about how to address Netanyahu’s case.
Along with the Middle East crisis, the G7 ministers will also discuss key global issues such as the war in Ukraine, the potential impact of a Donald Trump re-election, and the growing tensions surrounding Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.
This summit, the final G7 foreign ministers’ meeting of the year, comes as Italy holds the G7 presidency until the end of December, making it a critical moment for the group to align on these significant global concerns.
The Nigerian government is pushing ahead with new borrowing plans to fund its 2024 budget deficit, even as several federal agencies report exceeding their revenue targets.
During a presentation at the Senate Joint Committees on Finance, National Planning, and Economic Affairs, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, defended the need for additional loans.
He stated that borrowing must be “productive and efficient” and based on Senate approval to ensure proper budget funding.
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Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, echoed this position, noting that the ₦35.5 trillion 2024 budget includes a ₦9.7 trillion deficit. According to Bagudu, borrowing is necessary to address this gap.
Despite the government’s borrowing plans, key agencies presented strong revenue performances that raised questions about the necessity of additional loans.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman, Ola Olukoyede revealed that the EFCC has recovered over ₦197 billion in 2024.
He stated, “If the government works hard and derives the requisite collection from International Oil Companies (IOCs), the country would have enough to fund the budget.”
Also the Nigeria Customs Service Comptroller General, Bashir Adeniyi announced that Customs exceeded its ₦5.09 trillion target for 2024, collecting ₦5.352 trillion.
Adeniyi projected ₦6.3 trillion in revenue for 2025, with plans to increase targets by 10% annually for 2026 and 2027.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari reported that NNPCL surpassed its ₦12.3 trillion revenue projection for 2024, generating ₦13.1 trillion. For 2025, the company aims to remit ₦23.7 trillion into the federation account.
Additionally, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Chairman, Zacch Adedeji confirmed that FIRS exceeded its revenue targets across various tax components.
Biztellers reports that the Senate had on Thursday, approved President Bola Tinubu’s request for a ₦1.77 trillion ($2.2 billion) loan to partially finance the 2024 budget deficit.
The decision followed a report from the Senate Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, chaired by Senator Wammako Magatarkada.
Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin presided over the voice vote that secured the loan’s approval. The request, submitted earlier in the week, is part of a broader external borrowing plan tied to Nigeria’s fiscal strategy.
The loan request has drawn sharp criticism from opposition figures and public commentators.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar called the government’s borrowing plans “bone-crushing” and harmful to Nigerians.
“These @officialABAT’s loans are bone-crushing to Nigerians and bringing insufferable pressure on the economy, especially when they are not properly negotiated and utilized,” Atiku wrote on his X (formerly Twitter) account.
He accused the government of prioritizing corruption over development, adding, “It is concerning that the voracious appetite for these humongous loans is powered by corruption and not for infrastructure and development needs.
A report by BudgIT, a budget watchdog, has disclosed that the 2024 Budget is a mess because of the level of pork associated with it.”
Atiku also criticized the National Assembly, labeling it “an accomplice once more” in enabling excessive borrowing.
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