Govs Disown Yahaya Bello COVID-19 Claim

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Chinedu Ibeakanma

Chinedu Ibeakanma is a trained journalist. He holds a masters degree in Mass Communication and you’ll often find him writing breaking news stories on politics, sports, business, lifestyle, and other interesting beats. Chinedu is also a broadcaster and when he is not in the studio, you will find him analysing critical issues that affect humanity

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Members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) have dissociated themselves from the reported claim by Kogi Governor Yahaya that coronavirus vaccines are meant to kill people and reduce population.

The Governors, in a communiqué at the end of their virtual meeting on Wednesday, said their decisions and actions in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic would be guided by science and informed opinions.

“On the ill-fated pronouncement made by a member of the forum, regarding the COVID-19 vaccine, in a national daily, the forum (NGF) totally and categorically dissociated itself from the statement.

“The forum will continue to be informed and guided by science and will ensure that every decision it takes retains public and professional trust and is not compromised by conflicts of interest.”

The NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, according to the communique made available by the forum’s secretariat on Thursday, briefed members about a meeting with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GOVI) on plans for the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccines.

Fayemi told the meeting that there is an arrangement for the World Health Organisation (WHO) “to facilitate pooled procurement and the equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines across developing countries. Nigeria is among 12 countries in Africa that have indicated readiness of the 92 qualified countries for the facility and will by end of February 2021 receive its first shipment of vaccines.”

The NGF said the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the agency likely to coordinate the deployment of the vaccines in the country “has indicated that vaccines will be administered in four phases, based on vaccine type and availability, initially for frontline health workers, then the aged (55yrs and above), persons with underlying medical conditions and other target groups.”

It added the meeting was briefed by “three medical experts including Professor Oyewale Tomori, leading Virologist and former Vice-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Nigeria; Dr. Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA); Dr. Pamela Ajayi Founder/Managing Director Synlab Nigeria (formerly PathCare), President Healthcare Federation of Nigeria and Dr. Egbe Dawodu, founding partner of the Anadach Group on the country’s preparedness for the procurement and administration of COVID vaccines and the level of collaboration required from all stakeholders, including the federal, state governments and the private sector.

“Following the presentations, the Forum set up a team of experts led by Professor Oyewale Tomori to advice State governors on the procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccines in the country. “