BUA Group Not Authorised to Buy Vaccines—CACOVID

By Ahmed Rahma

The Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) has disowned the statement credited to BUA Group that it has purchased a million doses of COVID-19 (AstraZeneca) vaccines for Nigerians.

According to the body, no individual or company can purchase vaccines directly from any legitimate and recognised manufacturer.

In a statement issued to clear the air on COVID-19 vaccine purchase, CACOVID explained that the Chairman of BUA Group, Mr Abdulsamad Rabiu, may have been misquoted by the media.

“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 8, Governor (of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin) Emefiele, relayed to the larger group a call that he held with Mr Aliko Dangote and Mr Herbert Wigwe (of Dangote Group and Access Bank respectively) with Afreximbank President, Mr Benedict Oramah, on Sunday, February 7.

“President Oramah briefed the three CACOVID leaders on the $2 billion facilities the bank has set up with the African Union Vaccine taskforce to purchase vaccines for the African Continent. The allocation for Nigeria has been capped at 42 million doses.

“President Oramah explained that one million doses were ready for shipment to Nigeria in the next two weeks if a down payment was made by today, February 8 (Monday),” the statement read.

According to the statement, CACOVID leadership agreed to contribute $100 million to procure vaccines for Nigeria, noting that “these one million doses from Afreximbank worth $3.45 million is the very first tranche. CACOVID will purchase vaccines through other credible and subsidised mechanisms such as COVAX.”

The vaccines are expected to 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,” it said.

Earlier on Monday morning, BUA had announced that through the AFREXIM vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID, that it secured one million vaccine doses which are expected to be delivered next week to become the first delivery of vaccines to Nigeria since the COVID-19 vaccines were certified for global use.

“BUA decided to secure these one million vaccines by paying the full amount for the vaccines today (Monday) 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 manage the pandemic,” a statement signed by Mr Rabiu yesterday had said.