Lalong: Northern governors ready to take COVID-19 vaccine — to allay fears

Simon Lalong, chairman of the Northern Governors Forum and Plateau state governor, says he and his colleagues have agreed to be in front of the line to take the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.

The move by the governors appears to be a way to allay the fears and concerns some northerners might have of the vaccine.

The polio immunisation programme suffered a big setback in the north amid claims it was intended to sterilise them in order to reduce Muslim population across the world.

Some Christian leaders have also been peddling unsubstantiated claims that Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, wanted to plant microchips in human beings through the vaccine — in order to gain control of their brains.

Yahaya Bello, the governor of Kogi state, recently said the vaccine is intended “to kill us”, but his colleagues have distanced themselves from his claims.

Speaking at a teleconference organised by the Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation (SABMF) on Thursday, Lalong, represented by Danladi Atu, secretary to the Plateau state government, expressed hope that their action will encourage the people to take the vaccine.

“We the northern governors have agreed to take the first doses of the vaccines,” the governor said.

Also speaking, Clara Ejembi, a professor of community medicine from the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, said the people should continue to adhere to the COVID-19 protocol.

The professor said the vaccine does not stop one from being reinfected with the dreaded disease.

On his part, Faisal Shu’aibu, executive director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said the federal government is aiming at having over 70 percent vaccinated in two years.

Shu’aibu said it is projected that 40 percent of the world’s population would be vaccinated in the first phase.