BUA Group says it has purchased one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines for Nigeria through African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIM) vaccine programme in partnership with Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID).
The group, owned by Billionaire businessman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, is a conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining, real estate, mining, manufacturing and agriculture.
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The vaccines which should be delivered by next week, will be the first delivery of vaccines to Nigeria since the COVID-19 vaccines became available, TheCable reports.
According to BUA, the vaccines will be distributed free to Nigerians at no cost.
Speaking on this development, Philanthropist and Founder of BUA, Abdul Samad Rabiu thanked the President of Afrexim Bank, Dr. Benedict Oramah for making the purchase possible.
He also thanked Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, for coordinating the process through CACOVID Private Sector partnership.
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According to him;
BUA decided to secure these 1million vaccines by paying the full amount for the vaccines today because these vaccines became available only last week through AFREXIM. We expect the vaccines to be delivered within the next 14 days and hope priority will be given to our frontline workers who have committed their lives to managing the pandemic.
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Rabiu stated;
In addition to this, BUA is committing to purchase 5 million doses for Nigeria as soon as they become available through this same arrangement.
This development effectively pushes Africa’s most populous nation to the front of the queue in vaccine procurement.
As much as this is a commendable act, I fear that it might get concentrated in the hands of the few.