The Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu has said that Nigeria is working very hard to produce a locally made vaccine.
The Minister also said that Nigeria was intensifying its efforts in research towards the production of the Covid-19 Vaccine so that other countries can benefit.
Dr. Onu said that Nigerian medical professionals and scientists would be involved in the production process.
The Minister said this when the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Clara M. Paulido-Escandell paid a courtesy visit in his office on Monday, in Abuja.
Dr. Onu further said that the essence of production of the vaccine locally would help the country create jobs and equally reduce poverty levels.
He said that Nigeria would leverage on the existing bilateral relationship between the two countries to work together in other areas for the mutual benefit of both countries.
According to the Minister, already, there are claims for the disease cure, which were presently being investigated at various levels and undergoing clinical tests.
He also said there was the need for Nigerian Professionals and the organised private sectors (OPS) to ensure that the Executive order No. 5 was fully operational.
The Minister also said that if any Nigerian professional suffered any unfairness in the procurement process, his Ministry should be notified.
He said: “We want all Nigerian Professionals to be at the centre of economic activities in the country and we believe strongly is the only way that enterprises, cooperation, growths will become very strong’
Earlier, the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria, Her Excellency Clara M. Paulido-Escandel acknowledged that her last visit to the Ministry availed her with the opportunity of working with some Agencies such as National Bio-technology and Development Agency (Nabada) and Shetsco development Institute to further achieve the local vaccine production.
She however, also warned against the rising cases of the new COVID-19 variant.
