TheCable

The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) says it will supply a total of 40 million doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID vaccine to Nigeria by 2022.

Benedict Oramah, president of the bank, made this known on Tuesday in Abuja while updating Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on some of the bank’s projects across Nigeria.

Oramah explained that Afreximbank was investing in trade and health infrastructure, and was also involved in the procurement and distribution of COVID vaccines to African countries including Nigeria.

According to him, the bank is also planning to establish National Quality Assurance Centres in parts of the country in order to support and upgrade export of commodities from Nigeria.

He said Afreximbank has plans of investing in important sectors of the Nigerian economy, including health.

Oramah listed the plans to include building a world-class tertiary hospital and health park in Abuja, and added that the 500-bed state-of-the-art hospital would be developed in collaboration with Kings College Hospital in the UK, and other partners.

He also disclosed an arrangement under the Afreximbank facility to deliver 40 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria before the end of 2022.

According to him, the bank was committed to ensuring the continent achieves herd immunity by vaccinating about 60 percent of Africa’s population against the disease.

In his remarks, Osinbajo commended Afreximbank for its efforts in stimulating and developing African trade, including its many engagements in Nigeria.

On the planned establishment of quality assurance centres across the country, Osinbajo said it is important because “one of the problems we have had with our exports is really this problem of quality assurance and making sure that we have the facilities to test our export products and get all of our agencies working together”.

“I am sure that you have SON, NAFDAC, and all of our agencies working with you on this project.”

He further described the federal government’s programmes in the micro, small and Medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector, particularly in the shared facility initiative under the national MSMEs clinic as important and deserving of Afreximbank’s backing.