Connect with us

News

Nigeria, World Bank To Raise $30M For Vaccine Plant — Osinbajo

Published

on

yemi osinbajo

The Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo said the federal government and the World Bank are working together to raise $30 million to fund a vaccine factory in the country.

VP Osinbajo discussed this on Monday in Abuja at the International Conference on “Access to Health and Socio-Economic Development Beyond Covid-19: The First Multisectoral Approach to Finding Solutions.”

The conference was organized by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, NIPRD. He said the global health trend has made it essential for Nigeria to establish its own vaccine production facilities.

“Nigeria is in talks with the private lending arm of the World Bank and other lenders to raise around $30 million to help finance a vaccine factory.

“Bio-vaccine Nigeria Limited is chaired by Professor Oyewale Tomori; 49 percent of the company is owned by the Nigerian government with the remainder held by May and Baker Nigeria PLC and they are planning to start construction of a factory.

“ I believe in the first quarter of next year; the plant which is supposed to be located in Ota, Ogun State, will initially, we are told, fill and finish, which I’m also told, means importing the raw materials for the vaccines and then packaging them for distribution.

“Some South African companies are already involved in this task; I believe Aspen Pharmacare and Belvac Institute operate similar facilities.

“Full manufacturing, we are told, should follow in the months or years to come; I’m not quite sure when.

“So it’s obvious that the way forward is more funding for healthcare and research for innovators to develop solutions in pharmaceuticals and medical consumables.”

The Vice President said that through the discussion he had with NIPRD Director-General Dr. Obi Adigwe, he was inspired by the potential and the kind of support that the pharmaceutical industry and research agencies provided.

Osinbajo said the federal government established the Health Sector Intervention Fund which disbursed 76.9 billion naira, or about $185 million, to finance the acquisition and installation of critical medical care equipment.

He said the fund was also intended for the expansion of production lines at various pharmaceutical companies across the country.

According to him, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is also supporting a number of research and development initiatives in the health sector, as it has disbursed a total of 233 billion naira in grants.

Mr. Osinbajo said the NIPRD is also making immense contributions to developing a local cure for COVID-19.

“NIPRD has also developed an impressive variety of pharmaceutical products from indigenous resources and both the Niprimune and Niprimune plus both of which I have the pleasure of seeing, have been found to possess a reasonable property that is able to prevent or combat COVID-19.

“Both products, which have been registered by NAFDAC, are currently undergoing clinical studies at various levels with a view to production approval for emergency use.

“NIPRD Director-General Dr. Obi Adigwe assured that around the same time next year, the institute will launch three new products currently under development at its centers for nanomedicine, artificial intelligence and machine learning.

“It is this proactive approach that we must adopt in the face of the slow access to vaccines in Africa and of course in Nigeria.

“Although we have received help from some friendly countries and the Covax alliance, less than 4 percent of our eligible population would have been vaccinated by the end of this year.

“There is no doubt that we cannot afford not to have our own vaccine production facilities.”

He said the COVID-19 pandemic was a revelation for him in five different ways: the unpreparedness of most developed economies; vaccine reluctance and the danger of conspiracy theory and misinformation, especially in a public health crisis.

VP Osinbajo said the fourth revelation was that, in terms of the COVID-19-wide global health crisis, help should not be expected.

“The fifth revelation is that despite infrastructure weaknesses, in Nigeria we have an experienced and robust public health system, populated by some of the best staff in the world.

“But more importantly, we have the opportunity to become one of the leading countries in healthcare,” he said.

Earlier, in his welcoming address, Adigwe said the conference was the first of its kind to bring together multidisciplinary academics to engage, innovate and synthesize new approaches to solving global health challenges.

Keynote speaker Prof Joseph Fortunak, who spoke virtually, said COVID-19 exposed the vulnerability of the pharmaceutical supply chain and urged Nigeria to take drug manufacturing seriously.

Continue Reading
Comments

Travel

Delta Air Lines Flight Diverts to Togo After Passenger Dies Midair

Published

on

Delta Air Lines

A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Lagos was diverted to Togo following the midair death of a yet-to-be-identified passenger.

The unfortunate incident occurred approximately three hours before the flight’s scheduled arrival in Lagos, prompting the crew to address a health emergency onboard.

Despite initial intentions to proceed to Lagos, adverse weather conditions, including heavy thunderstorms, forced the pilots to divert the plane to Lome, Togo.

The flight, Delta Air Lines’ A330-200 aircraft, was carrying 215 passengers at the time. Upon landing in Lome, the aircraft underwent refueling procedures and awaited clearance amidst the inclement weather.

Subsequently, after an additional delay in Togo, the flight resumed its journey and safely landed in Lagos, albeit approximately eight and a half hours behind schedule.

Passengers onboard expressed their concerns and frustrations, particularly regarding the handling of the medical emergency and the subsequent diversion.

Social media platforms buzzed with accounts of the ordeal, with one passenger recounting the unfortunate sequence of events, including the midair death and the necessity of an emergency landing due to fuel depletion.

Meanwhile, an airplane operated by Dana Airline veered off the runway at Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The affected MD-83 aircraft, registration 5N-BKI, carried 83 passengers. Dana Air spokesman Mr. Kingsley Ezenwa confirmed all passengers and crew disembarked safely without injuries.

Ezenwa, in a statement, said: “Dana Air regrets to inform the public of a runway incursion involving one of our aircraft, registration number 5N BKI, which was flying from Abuja to Lagos today, 23/04/24.

“We are relieved to confirm that all 83 passengers and crew onboard the flight disembarked safely without injuries or scare as the crew handled the situation with utmost professionalism.

“We have also updated the Accident Investigation Bureau, AIB, and Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) on the incident, and the aircraft involved has been grounded by our maintenance team for further investigation.

“We wish to thank the airport authorities, our crew for their very swift response in ensuring the safe disembarkation of all passengers following the incident, and our sincere apologies and appreciation to the passengers on the affected flight for their patience and understanding.”

Continue Reading

News

ARISE News Channel Goes Global: Launches in Nine Southern African Countries

Published

on

Arise News

ARISE News Channel, a prominent Nigerian cable news network, has reached another significant milestone in its journey to become a global media powerhouse.

The channel has officially gone live in nine Southern African countries, including South Africa, Angola, and Botswana.

This expansion was made possible through a partnership with Multichoice/DSTV, with ARISE News Channel now available on Channel 416.

Alongside South Africa, Angola, and Botswana, the channel is now accessible to viewers in Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In a statement released by the Chief of Staff to Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of ARISE News Channel, Fauziya Ali Mohammed, it was revealed that the channel’s presence now spans 54 African countries.

Mohammed explained that ARISE News Channel is committed to delivering high-quality news coverage across the continent, showcasing various facets of African life, including business, politics, technology, commerce, science, sports, show business, and fashion.

ARISE News Channel, which celebrated its 11th anniversary earlier this year, has earned acclaim for its Emmy-winning programming.

It has become a leading broadcaster in Africa, offering audiences a diverse range of content while projecting the best of Africa’s culture and people to the world.

Chairman/Editor-in-Chief of ARISE News Channel, Nduka Obaigbena, expressed his excitement about the channel’s expansion into Southern Africa, emphasizing its commitment to promoting African narratives globally.

Obaigbena highlighted ARISE News Channel’s dedication to showcasing the continent’s potential and celebrating its achievements on the global stage.

The channel operates around the clock from studios located in Lagos, Abuja, Johannesburg, Cape Town, London, and New York.

Its coverage extends beyond traditional broadcasting platforms, reaching viewers across Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and the United States through various channels and streaming services.

With its latest expansion into Southern Africa, ARISE News Channel continues to solidify its position as a leading voice in African media, shaping narratives and fostering dialogue on issues of regional and global significance.

As the channel continues to grow its global footprint, it remains dedicated to providing audiences with insightful and impactful journalism that reflects the dynamism and diversity of the African continent.

Continue Reading

Travel

Air Peace Flight Delayed, Passengers Stranded After Failed Promise of Hotel Stay

Published

on

Passengers aboard an Air Peace flight from Abuja to Owerri found themselves in a state of disarray and frustration after a series of delays and unmet promises left them stranded without accommodations.

What was supposed to be a routine flight scheduled to depart Abuja at 4:30 PM and arrive in Owerri at 5:30 PM turned into a nightmare as the flight was delayed until 6:18 PM due to a reported lack of a pilot.

However, midway through the journey, passengers were informed that the flight couldn’t proceed to Owerri because the airport there would close by 6:40 PM.

The flight was forced to return to Abuja, where passengers endured further uncertainty as they waited for over 20 minutes to receive any communication from the airline. Eventually, they were informed of plans to provide a bus to transport them to a hotel for accommodation.

However, this promise was not fulfilled, leaving passengers stranded and scattered around the airport.

One passenger, who had already experienced delays with another airline earlier in the day, expressed frustration at the lack of accountability and protection for travelers.

The incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by passengers in Nigeria’s domestic aviation sector and raises questions about the adequacy of regulations to safeguard passengers’ rights.

Attempts to reach Air Peace for comment on the situation were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.

Continue Reading
Advertisement




Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending