Northern States Governor’s Forum (NSGF), Thursday, doused tension, saying its members have accepted to take the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine when it arrives in Nigeria.
The Chairman NSGF, Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong in a webinar organized by an NGO, the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF), gave the assurance for his colleagues.
Lalong, who was represented by the Secretary to the Plateau State Government (SSG), Professor Danladi Atu, said: “we the Northern Governors have agreed to take the first doses of the vaccines”.
The managing director and chief executive officer of the SBMF, Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar said the webinar, among others, was basically to sensitize the general public and provide answers to all the issues surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, and its vaccines.
A team of medical experts also gave their opinions about the COVID-19 vaccines, its efficacy and safety.
Dr Faisal Shu’aibu, Executive Director National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said that the projection is that 70 per cent of Nigerians will be vaccinated over the period of two years.
Shu’aibu added that the first phase is that 40 per cent of the population will be vaccinated while in the second phase, 39 per cent of the population is expected to be vaccinated.
He said in doing so the risk communication strategies will be implemented across the different phases of the COVID-19 vaccine introduction. A pioneer epidemiologist, Prof Abdulsalam Nasidii, also spoke on the efficacy of the vaccines.
