The Nigerian Governors Forum on Monday said it will meet on Wednesday to chart a way out of the second wave of the pandemic as schools reopen across the country.
•Expect first shipment end of February
•Disown Yahaya Bello’s claim on pandemic
Chuks Okocha and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja
Nurses yesterday warned that inadequate medical personnel could jeopardise the efforts of the federal and state governments to administer COVID-19 vaccines on Nigerians.
They spoke just as the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) announced the composition of a committee to oversee the procurement and administration of the vaccines, whose first shipment is expected to arrive in the country by February ending.
National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwife (NANNM) President, Mr. Abdul Adeniji, told THISDAY that the country does not have adequately trained manpower to administer the vaccines on a large scale.
By Chuks Okocha
The Nigeria Governors Forum has set up a committee of experts to advise on the procurement of COVID-19 vaccine.
Also, the governors have dissociated themselves from the comments of the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello that the vaccine would kill people.
A communique of the governors meeting signed by the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) Dr. Kayode Fayemi said, “Following the presentations, the Forum set up a team of experts led by Professor Oyewale Tomori to advice state governors on the procurement and administration of coronavirus vaccines in the country.”
After the meeting, the communique said the chairman, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, briefed State governors on a meeting with Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Chair of the Board of Gavi, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization, on the rollout of the COVAX facility which is a global risk-sharing mechanism co-led by Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the World Health Or
Governors pledge $700m to support water supply, sanitation, hygiene Governors pledge $700m to support water supply, sanitation, hygiene
• Distance NGF from Yayaha Bello’s position on COVID-19
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The 36 State Governors under the agies of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) unanimously resolved to increase budgetary allocation to the health sector with the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and the World Bank through the $700 million to support and incentivize infrastructure investments and strengthen government policies and institutions in the Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector.
The resolution was contained in the communiqué issued and signed by the NGF Chairman, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State at the end of the 24th Teleconference meeting, where the Forum distanced itself from a statement credited to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, that COVID-19 was meant to kill Nigerians.
The NGF meeting will be the first for the Governors in 2021 and will be conducted virtually.
Other matters to be discussed at the meeting include revenue sharing and the water resources bill.
Press Release Monday 18/01/21
Alarmed by the intensity of the second wave of the Covid19 pandemic, and Nigeria’s tardy commencement of inoculation that is sweeping through countries globally, the 36 governors of the federation may finally come up with a definitive pronouncement, as they will be meeting on Wednesday January 20 to find the way forward for the country.
The meeting which will be the first this year, 2021, by the governors, will as usual, be virtual, in conformity with the Covid19 protocols. It is the 23rd of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum teleconferences. The meeting commences at 2pm prompt but Governors are expected to start logging on from 1pm.