Following the reception of nearly four million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by Nigeria, the Minister of States for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora has said that the vaccine will not be made compulsory in Nigeria, stressing that it will not be enforced upon anyone.
The vaccines were shipped through COVAX Facility, a partnership between CEPI, Gavi, UNICEF and WHO.
Mamora disclosed this when he featured on Arise News to respond to questions on the vaccines.
He said, “Nothing will be made mandatory. It’s optional. The choice is yours. Nobody will be forced to take any vaccine.”
Responding to a question on whether it might become compulsory later on, the minister said, “If that happens, it would not be a decision of Nigeria.”
According to Mamora, just as one can’t travel to some countries without having the Yellow Card certificate, countries might have to start demanding a COVID-19 vaccination certificate before allowing outsiders in.
He added that Nigeria may be influenced by a demand by countries for a certificate of vaccination, adding that “it may just be something that will become global. So, it may come to that.”
“If you like, call it enlightened self-interest, why should I allow you to bring a deadly virus into the country?” he said.