The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the commencement of a process that will enhance the indigenisation of vaccine production in Nigeria. The company, called Bio Vaccine Nigeria Limited is expected to start producing vaccines domestically.
Minister of Health, Mr. Osagie Ehanire, made this known when he briefed State House correspondents at
the end of the council’s meeting presided over by President
Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday in Abuja.
He said: “The council
considered a memorandum from the Ministry of Health today, which has to do with
the first stage in indigenising vaccine production in Nigeria, the standard
programme on immunisation, not COVID-19 vaccine.
“As you know, the
government has a joint venture agreement and formed the company called Bio
Vaccine Nigeria Limited, which is to start producing vaccines domestically.
“Now, they are sourcing
for international partners, who will join them and give them the technology
transfer that they require.
“And after going to
various countries, South Africa, Indonesia, they settled with a Serum Institute
of India, which will now be the technical partner to support them in setting up
the vaccine production plant in Nigeria.
“But of course, the
Serium Institute of India is you have engaged the largest vaccine producer in
the world, and also has vaccines that are approved by World Health
Organisation.”
Ehanire further
disclosed that with this development, Serium Institute of India will work with
Bio Vaccine Nigeria, to build their manufacturing plant in Nigeria.
The plant is to be located in Ogun State, with the Nigerian company having 15 per cent of the market share.
“So, who will buy it?
So, government now has approved 15% of the vaccines that UNICEF normally
supplies us for bio vaccine to supply to through contract manufacturing, Serium
Institute of India.
”And with this, Serium
Institute of India will now be comfortable enough to come and join Bio Vaccine
of Nigeria, in building their manufacturing plant here in Ota, Nigeria.
“So, that arrangement
has now been approved by the Federal Executive Council for Bio Vaccine Nigeria
to have 15 per cent of the market share.
”It will be used for contract manufacturing of those vaccines as an initial step over the next few years when the plant in Nigeria starts to work. So, that was the approval that the council gave today,” he said.
The Minister of State
for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva, also told the correspondents that the
council approved N2.044 billion for the provision of internal roads and
drainages at the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board’s Gas hub in
Bayelsa.
According to Mr Sylva,
the gas hub was meant to encourage the development of countries that will
process the Nigerian gas for export as well as promote the use of gas
internally.
“Council today approved
the contract to construct internal roads and bridges in the Nigerian Content
Development and Monitoring Board’s Gas hub located at Polaku in Bayelsa.
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