The federal government of Nigeria is set to begin the production of vaccines for consumption in the country and hopes to generate $280 million exporting them to African countries.

According to the Chairman of the National Immunization Financing Task Force Team (NIFT), Dr Ben Anyene, the $120 million loan obtained from the World Bank in 2014 for vaccine importation is what has taken care of the country’s vaccine needs from 2015, and will do so till the end of 2016.

“It is important for the country to commence local production of vaccines now because it has the capacity, more so, other African countries are looking up to Nigeria for the production of vaccines,” said Dr Ben Anyene.

More importantly, he said when fully in production, vaccines from Nigeria will cater for seven million children and could also yield $280 million in export. He urged the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu to assist by producing a policy document for local vaccine production and a bankable business plan to encourage investors.

Read more at Guardian.