By: Adémólá Òrunbon

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has underscored the importance of Covid-19 vaccination and why the 2 million residents of State is targeted in mass vaccination within sixty (60) days. 

Governor Abiodun disclosed this on during the flag-off of Covid-19 mass vaccination campaign in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital, saying the State have been able to combat the pandemic head-long despite the proximity to Lagos State, the epic-centre of the pandemic.

The governor explained that the 60-day window would allow unvaccinated residents to take their jabs, as part of moves to flatten the curve of the virus.

He revealed that the state targets vaccination of additional 2 million residents in the newly flagged off mass vaccination exercise.

He said that the index case of Covid-19 in Nigeria was unfortunately identified in the State, saying that the discovery of that index case appeared like a menace to the people, especially for the efforts at providing adequate and good health for the people.

"Indeed, we must understand that there is a direct relationship between getting vaccinated and our individual prosperity and continued development of our State, and this vaccination will ensure that we are more immune", Abiodun said

He said that the mass vaccination was a demonstration of the commitment of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration towards wrestling to the ground the monster called Covid-19, adding that to also ensure that vaccination against the dread disease is extended to all Nigerians and in all parts of the country.

"In fact, we will continue to do more to guarantee the safety of our people at this period of Covid-19 and beyond, we are also committed to the provision of good health care system to our people and this we have continued to demonstrate in practical terms, in the last 29 months our administration in the State", Abiodun said

Abiodun disclosed that the State had increased vaccine centres from 131 to 509 to allow eligible residents have access to the vaccination.

Earlier, the General Manager of Nigeria Solidarity Support Fund, Dr. Fejiro Chinye-Nwoko, said the foundation is supporting six states with not less than N305 million to ensure many residents are vaccinated.

Chinye-Nwoko said the NSSF in collaboration with National Primary Health Care Development Agency will support the vaccination of one million Nigerians across the six states. 

She listed Ogun, Adamawa, Edo, Enugu, Nassarawa and Kastina as the benefiting states.

She however expressed readiness to support the federal government in ensuring that many Nigerians get vaccinated.

In his remarks, the Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Faisal Shuaib disclosed that the Federal government is targeting the vaccination of 50 percent eligible population of Nigerians by the end of January 2022.

Shuaib revealed that as at September 2021, a total of 5,684,939 Nigerians had received their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, while 3,730,937 had been vaccinated with both first and second doses.

He said the figures represented 5 percent and 2.8 percent of the targeted population of 200million Nigerians.

The NPHCDA Director disclosed that the Federal Government had set up a task force working in conjunction with the security agencies to curb corruption and fraud in the vaccination exercise.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said the State recorded 5,370 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 80 causalities.