President of African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), Prof. Benedict Oramah, has disclosed that the bank will supply a total of 40 million doses of Johnson and Johnson COVID-19 vaccine to Nigeria between now and 2022.

Oramah, who made this known on Tuesday, while making a presentation on some of the bank’s projects to Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the State House, Abuja, stated that the bank was investing in trade and health infrastructure, and also involved in the procurement and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines to African countries including Nigeria, to enable the continent achieve herd immunity.

The bank is also planning to establish National Quality Assurance Centres in parts of the country in order to support and upgrade export of commodities from Nigeria, Oramah added.

He declared that there is an arrangement under the Afreximbank facility to deliver 40 million doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to Nigeria before the end of 2022.

According to him, the bank was committed to ensuring the continent achieves herd immunity by vaccinating about 60 per cent of Africa’s population against the disease.

He said Afreximbank plan to invest in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy, including health, citing plans to build a world class tertiary hospital and health park in Abuja.

The bank CEO reiterated that the 500-bed state-of-the-art hospital would be developed in collaboration with Kings College Hospital in the UK, and other partners.

Responding after the bank’s presentation, Osinbajo commended the African Export-Import Bank for its efforts in stimulating and developing African trade, including its many engagements in Nigeria.

He expressed satisfaction with the work done by the bank and the interest shown in areas such as health infrastructure, trade facilitation and tourism, among others.

Referring to the proposed establishment of quality assurance centres across the country, the Vice President said it was important because, “one of the problems we have had with our exports is really this problem of quality assurance and making sure that we have the facilities to test our export products and get all of our agencies working together. I am sure that you have SON, NAFDAC, and all of our agencies working with you on this project.”

While thanking the bank for its support, Osinbajo noted that the federal government’s programmes in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, particularly in the Shared Facility Initiative under the National MSMEs Clinic, are important and deserving of AFREXIM’s backing.

According to him, the initiative which is implemented in collaboration with state governments and aimed at developing manufacturing clusters across the country, could be enhanced through partnership with the bank.

Also, about 699,760 COVID-19 vaccine doses donated by the UK have been received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.