The private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 yesterday shed more light on its squabble with the BUA Group, saying the company cannot lay claims to the acquisition of vaccines for Nigeria as presently no private organisation is authorised to do so globally.
The company, which said the vaccines would be distributed at no cost to Nigerians, added that the one million doses would be delivered next week. It pledged to buy an additional five million. “CACOVID would like the Nigerian public to understand that vaccine purchase is only possible through the Federal Government of Nigeria, and that no individual or company can purchase vaccines directly from any legitimate and recognised manufacturer,” it had said.
“This payment was made immediately after the meeting and BUA transferred the money to the CBN in order to meet the deadline.” She stated: “So, there are several steps to procuring vaccines. The government is the only one that can buy the vaccines, so, as a private sector group or individual companies, we can’t buy vaccines ourselves.
According to her, without the approval of NAFDAC, no vaccine can be imported, be distributed or given to Nigerians. “So, CACOVID leaders agreed that it was a good thing and we agreed to take that to our larger meeting on Monday. What is really important to note is that after that call, Afreximbank already secured those doses for Nigeria because they had the confirmation from Emefiele, Wigwe and Dangote.