A document circulated during a recent meeting of the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Health and the Nigeria Governors Forum has revealed that the Federal Government intend to spend N10.6 billion for the transportation of AstraZeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine throughout the country as it begins roll out in the days ahead.
The document also disclosed that a further N1.4 billion have been earmarked for protective gear and another N373 million budgeted for the purchase of Adverse Events Following Immunisation kits, also known as AEFI kits.
According to the document, Kano State, with 44 local government areas, has the highest budget for transportation at N685.4 million while the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Lagos has N558.6 million budgeted for distribution of the vaccine.
N476 million would be spent on distributing the vaccines in Katsina State while N396.3 million was budgeted to be spent in Oyo State.
Bayelsa, with just eight local government areas will require N121 million for the vaccines to be distributed.
The total amount of money earmarked for the transportation of vaccine, procurement of Personal Protective Equipment, AEFI kits and sensitisation was summed up at N12.7bn.
It is however not yet clear what the sub-heads for the budgets are or if Special vehicles (trucks) would be procured for the purpose of distribution to the various communities across the country or if it would be contracted out.
Whatever the Nigerian government decides to do, N10.6 billion no doubt appears to be on the high side for the transportation of the vaccines.
