The United States government has donated 3,577,860 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for the public health and benefit of the Nigerian people through COVAX.
The U.S. Mission in Nigeria made the announcement in a statement on Thursday, October 14, in Abuja, stating that the shipment brings the total number of U.S.-bilaterally donated COVID-19 doses to Nigeria to over 7.5 million.
According to the statement, the U.S. also contributed to the first multilateral donation of the AstraZeneca vaccine in March 2021. Overall, COVAX has provided Nigeria with over 10 million doses to date.
The U.S has also pledged to purchase and donate 1.1 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses worldwide, and to date has delivered more than 180 million doses to more than 100 countries.
It stated that the U.S. government’s continued efforts to provide vaccines to African Union (AU) member countries helps fulfill President Biden’s pledge.
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Biden said: “The United States is committed to bringing the same urgency to international vaccination efforts; that we have demonstrated at home.
“We are sharing these vaccines to save lives and to lead the world in bringing an end to the pandemic.”
The Mission noted that the vaccine donations are a part of the U.S. government’s continued partnership with the Government of Nigeria in combatting COVID-19.
To date, the U.S. government has provided 130 million dollars of support; to Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19.
The U.S. government is looking forward to continued coordination with Nigeria; and its Center for Disease Control to deliver life-saving doses across the country through the COVAX initiative.
Meanwhile, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has explained how he was willing to sacrifice his second-term ambition; in order to give children from his state quality education.
El-Rufai made this disclosure on Thursday, October 14, during the Ekiti State’s Fountain Summit 2021; with the theme ‘Investment Attractiveness and Economic Development in Ekiti State’ which was held in Ado-Ekiti.
According to the Governor, he was threatened with an election loss; but insisted and eventually carried out the test on teachers in Kaduna notwithstanding the threat.
“My brother here was said to have lost his second term bid the first time; because he threatened to test teachers,” he said.
“I tested them and fired them before our election. When I was asked that I would lose the second term; I said if losing second term in office will give Kaduna State children a future with better primary education, I am ready to let it go.”
