The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of May & Baker Nigeria Plc, Mr Patrick Ajah, has disclosed that Nigeria will commence manufacturing vaccines in 2023.
Mr Ajah who hinted this in a media chat in Lagos, said Nigeria could not continue to depend on Western countries for its vaccine “as the coronavirus pandemic has taught us that they will always prioritise their people.”
He expressed optimism that the ground-breaking of Biovaccines Nigeria Limited, a joint venture between May & Baker and the federal government, for local manufacturing of vaccines would happen in 2023.
He noted that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the first part of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Biovaccines on September 14, for the supply of routine immunisation vaccines.
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He said, “This is the first and major step towards vaccine production in Nigeria, as this allows Biovaccines to commence the engagement with the chosen technology transfer partners and subsequently initiate the design and construction of the green field project.
“We are optimistic that the ground-breaking ceremony for the vaccine production facility will happen before Q2 of 2023.”
He disclosed that there was a designated site in Ota, Ogun State, for the factory.
He further said, “We are just waiting for some of these processes to be activated. So now that this has been done we are speaking with our partners, funding partners and technology partners too.”
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