President Muhammadu Buhari has stated that Nigeria has a tradition of Vaccine manufacturing and laboratory for microbiological research.
Buhari said this earlier today at the state house in Abuja where he played host to the Nigerian biomedical scientist and the Federal Ministry of Health and BioNTech SE.
According to the president, the meeting is to help in achieving the production of MRNAVaccinesin Nigeria.
Taking to his verified Twitter account president Buhari also revealed that the laboratories for microbiology research in both private and public facilities were established 80years ago
I welcome the exploratory interactions between Nigerian biomedical scientists and the Federal Ministry of Health; and BioNTech SE, with the ultimate goal of achieving the production of mRNA vaccines in Nigeria. I’m confident the collaboration will be a productive one.
Nigeria has a long tradition in vaccine manufacturing and laboratories for microbiological research, both in private and public facilities, and also for human and veterinary vaccine research, established over 80 years ago.
You will find in Nigeria, biosafety Level 3 laboratories, and ongoing initiatives with trusted partners to develop Level 4 capacity too.
“We have a vibrant Health Ethics Research Council, and our WHO Maturity Level 3 certified Regulatory body, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC Agency regulates vaccines and has started the process to attain Maturity Level Four, which makes pharmaceutical products made in Nigeria, including vaccines, marketable abroad”.
Considering the vast inequalities in access to COVID-19 vaccines at the peak of the pandemic, Nigeria and many middle-income countries now appreciate the need for global decentralization and diversification of manufacturing capacity for items critical for public health security.
See more photos from the meeting below.
