Buhari urges Nigerians to present themselves for COVID-19 vaccination

Etim Ekpimah

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged all eligible Nigerians to make themselves available for vaccination in accordance with order of priority already mapped out in the various authorised and designated centres only.

The president stated that the only way in which a country can be free from Coronavirus is to get everybody vaccinated.

“Today is the demonstration of our leadership and phase in the safety and efficacy of the vaccines. I have received my first jabs and I wish to recommend it to all eligible Nigerians to do same so that we can be protected from the virus.

“The vaccines offer hope for our safe and a country free of coronavirus.

“I similarly urged all eligible Nigerians to present themselves and be vaccinated in accordance with the order of priority already mapped out at the various authorised and designated centres only,” he said.

Buhari stated this after he and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had been vaccinated against COVID-19 on Saturday.

The president was vaccinated by his personal physician, Dr Suhayb Sanusi, at about 11.51 am at a brief ceremony witnessed by top government officials at the New Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said humanity has remained under the burden of coronavirus pandemic as it has become a very potent enemy around the world, causing over 2.5m fatalities and destroyed groups and national systems.

According to him, the responses from Nigeria and ECOWAS have been enormous towards collaborative and united efforts, which he said have been driven by collective knowledge that no country is safe until every country is safe.

The president, however, commended the efforts of the scientists by developing the vaccines against the virus within a short space of time.

He said: “The speedy development of the coronavirus vaccines is quite significant and underscores the collective resolve of humanity to overcome the pandemic.

“Similarly, the collaborative efforts to ensure equal access has brought relief to poor and developing countries.

“It is our administration plan to cater for over 70 per cent of our population between 2021 and 2022.” He noted that the Presidential Task Force on Coronavirus Vaccines has assured him that the AstraZeneca, the maker of the vaccines, will roll out more vaccines in tranches.