140 million — that is the number of people Nigeria plans to vaccinate against coronavirus in less than two years. This represents 70% of its population. This highly ambitious vaccination campaign should begin in March, after receiving 10 million doses, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health, which does not specify which company will supply these doses. There is also no indication of which organization will finance this vast campaign, between the African Union which will order 270 million vaccines in coming months, in particular from Pfizer and AstraZeneca laboratories, and the Covax mechanism, launched by the World Health Organization and wealthy countries to promote equitable access to vaccines worldwide.

Faced with uncertainties regarding the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, the Nigerian government is thus considering producing them locally, so as not to depend solely on imports. According to the Minister of Health, 25.2 million dollars have been released to support this project. A sum that should allow Nigerian laboratories to partner with international firms. But the minister provided no details on any possible approaches to an American, British, Russian or Chinese laboratory that already produces an anti-covid vaccine.

Only one African country – Morocco – will produce the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine on its soil.