The Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Wednesday, condemned the export bans on the covid-19 vaccines and the resort to vaccine nationalism.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, in a statement issued in Abuja, quoted Osinbajo as speaking at a virtual forum organized by a leading American Christian University, Liberty University.
The forum with the theme: “Equity for Africa: Transforming the World through Judeo-Christian Values,” was hosted by the university’s School of Business.
Osinbajo said the principle of fairness should be applied by leaders in addressing challenges in health, the economy, and other issues with a view to lessening burdens on developing countries.
“The principle of fairness obliges us as people of faith, to strive to build a fairer world, a world which takes account of the interests of the poor and marginalised. It means a world that does not impose unfair burdens on developing countries when global cooperation is required.
“For example, if you look at what is happening with COVID-19 and access to vaccines, what we are seeing is export bans and a resort to vaccine nationalism.
“Christian leaders must lead the world towards ensuring that all countries and their peoples can access vaccines irrespective of the resources available to them. The same considerations apply to helping African countries cope with the economic crisis caused by COVID-19,” he said.
Speaking on the prospects for greater advancement in Africa, Osinbajo said: “There is no gainsaying that in order for Africa to actualize its potential, it must work with friends especially those of faith to identify strategic opportunities to bring about growth and prosperity in the continent.”
Referring to investment potential in Nigeria, the VP said: “Investing in Nigeria also offers a pathway to partaking in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which will create a market in goods and services for up to 1.3 billion people.”
