Private sector-led Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has disowned BUA Group’s statement of single-handedly purchasing one million doses of COVID-19 vaccine for Nigeria.
BUA Group is a conglomerate active in cement production, sugar refining, real estate, mining, manufacturing and agriculture.
In a statement issued earlier on Monday, BUA group announced that it had secured one million doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, through AfreximBank vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID.
The company, owned by Billionaire businessman Abdulsamad Rabiu, added that the vaccine doses would be distributed to Nigerians at no cost.
Read Also: BUA Group Buys One Million Doses Of AstraZeneca COVID-19 Vaccine For Nigeria
However, CACOVID in a statement said it was dismayed to learn of reports on social media alleging that BUA is singlehandedly purchasing 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Nigeria.
Coalition Against COVID-19 is a private sector-led organization in Nigeria established to assist the government in combating the Coronavirus disease in the country. The coalition consist of some billionaires and various organisation including BUA group.
It stated;
Alhaji Abdulsamad must have been misquoted because these claims are not factual as CACOVID operates on a collegiate fund contribution model. There is no agreement between BUA, CACOVID and Afreximbank.
During the CACOVID weekly call of February 8th, Governor Emefiele, relayed to the larger group a call that he held with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe with Afreximbank President, Benedict Oramah on Sunday Feb 7th. President Oramah briefed the 3 CACOVID leaders on the $2 billion facility the Bank has set up with the African Union Vaccine taskforce to purchase vaccines for the African Continent.
CACOVID added;
The allocation for Nigeria has been capped at 42 million doses. President Oramah explained that 1 million doses were ready for shipment to Nigeria in the next 2 weeks if a down payment was made by today, February 8th
The coalition group stressed that at Monday’s meeting, its leadership agreed to contribute $100 million to procure vaccines for Nigeria, sating that these 1 million doses from Afreximbank worth $3.45 million, being the very first tranche.
CACOVID explained further;
CACOVID will purchase vaccines through other credible and subsidized mechanisms such as COVAX. The vaccines will be delivered to Nigeria and distributed through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).
CACOVID would like the Nigerian public to understand that vaccine purchase is only possible through the Federal Government of Nigeria, and that no individual or company can purchase vaccines directly from any legitimate and recognised manufacturer.
