Niger State Governor and Chairman North Central Governors Forum (NCGF), Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello say out of the 74,110 doses of COVID-19 vaccines received by the State, 35,170 has so far been utilized in the state, representing 47.5%.
The Chairman NCGF stated this when he participated in a town hall meeting of the North Central states on COVID-19 vaccination held in Nassarawa State, organized by the Presidential Steering Committee on COVID-19 in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
Governor Sani Bello who joined the meeting virtually assured that the State will not exceed the 50% utilization of the vaccines as directed by the Federal Government to allow for a second dose to those who have taken the first dose.
He also explained that the State has been able to establish one of the best molecular laboratories in the country and the State government is leveraging on the pandemic to reposition the health system in the state particularly in responding to future pandemics.
The NCGF Chairman acknowledged that though there were initial doubts in accepting the vaccine, the state government took actions through sensitization which immediately resolved the issues.
Governor Sani Bello said among those that have benefited in the first dose are strategic leaders; comprising all State Executive Council Members, State House of Assembly Members, Religious and Traditional leaders, frontline workers and their supporting staff, as well as at-risk population such as men in uniform, security personnel, petrol station attendants among others adding that efforts are being made to ensure that all eligible persons are vaccinated.
The Governor highlighted that since the first case of COVID-19 was recorded in the State, the State government took giant strides in combating the pandemic by coming up with a strategic working document, establishing a task force involving all relevant stakeholders, and passage executive orders geared towards containing the pandemic.
He commended the organizers of the event and the efforts of the Federal Government as well National Primary Health Care Development Agency for coordinating the vaccination rollout.
Niger State Commissioner for Health Dr. Mohammed Makusidi also participated in the meeting virtually.
The town hall meeting brought together all relevant stakeholders from all the North Central States in Nigeria.
