Buhari Tasks Governors, Others To Lead In COVID-19 Vaccination Drive

President Muhammadu Buhari has told state governors, traditional and religious leaders to take the lead in mobilizing people in their spheres of influence to support the COVID-19 vaccination exercise recently launched in Nigeria.

The President made the call on Saturday shortly after he took the first dose of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine jab with the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Buhari described his decision to take the vaccine in public as a demonstration of leadership and faith in the efficacy and safety of the vaccines.

“I have received my first jab and I wish to recommend it to all eligible Nigerians, to do the same so that we can be protected from the virus,” Buhari’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, quoted the President.

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“The vaccine offers hope for a safe country, free of coronavirus," he added.

“I similarly urge all eligible Nigerians to present themselves and be vaccinated in accordance with the order of priority already mapped out, at the various authorised designated centres only.”

President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo received the first shot of the vaccine in the presence of members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, and the senior government officials, among others.

The personal physician to Buhari, Dr. Sanusi Raafindali, administered the vaccine to him while that of Osinbajo was administered by his personal physician, Dr. Nicholas Audifferen.