Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
One of Nigeria’s main priorities now is getting the
COVID-19 vaccine and this is a matter of utmost concern to the
Buhari administration, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,
SAN.
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday at the opening session of
the virtual edition of the Paris Peace Forum which featured
presentations by some Heads of State & government alongside
international organizations, on a collective response to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Stating what Nigeria’s priorities in its COVID-19 response are,
the Vice President said “the priorities of Nigeria in the
post-COVID-19 era include improved healthcare and the economy.
First, we need to keep the virus under control. While our guards
are still firmly in place, getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a matter
of utmost concern.”
According to him, “On this, we are encouraged by the efforts of
WHO and other international agencies working to ensure that vaccine
delivery will be equitable across all countries, regardless of the
priority of orders and ability to pay.”
Underscoring the importance of prioritizing interventions and
investments in the healthcare system, the Vice President said “we
are encouraging private investment to upscale our health sector,
with emphasis on improved facilities and affordable universal
healthcare.”
While appreciating leaders across the world for their prompt
response and cooperation in controlling the spread of the COVID-19,
Prof. Osinbajo said “the sheer scale of disruptions to our lives
and livelihoods caused by COVID-19 certainly caught us all by
surprise.”
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Restating the call for debt relief for developing countries, the
Vice President said “the pandemic underscores the need for adequate
financial buffers to cope with the ‘black swan’ events. For many
developing countries, the debt burden makes this all but
impossible.”
Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo noted, “We call for debt relief for
these countries, and the extension of the Debt Service Suspension
Initiative (DSSI) at least until the end of 2021 as well as
commercial debt relief where needed.”
The Vice President had in previous international forums earlier
in the year made a case for debt relief for developing countries,
noting that “the Debt Servicing Support Initiative of the G20 is
welcome and will no doubt bring some relief to relevant African
countries. However, it remains inadequate because it does not
address the problem of commercial debt service obligations.”
He assured that Nigeria stands with all countries of the world,
in the effort to eradicate the virus, and leverage experiences for
a healthier and more prosperous world.
The Paris Peace Forum is an annual event that features leaders
and actors from civil society around the world with a focus on
challenges facing the world – climate change, terrorism, migration,
cyber insecurity, and global governance issues among others.