By In a rather surprising development, controversies have surrounded the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines by BUA Group.
The Private Sector Coalition against COVID-19 (CACOVID) and Abdul Samad Rabiu-led BUA Group have been trading words over the genuineness of the process.
Many perceived this to be a continuation of the war over control of cement market in the country between BUA and Dangote groups.
It would be recalled that BUA Group in a statement issued on Monday, 8 February, 2021, had announced that it had secured one million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, through the AfreximBank vaccine programme in partnership with CACOVID, adding that the vaccine doses would be distributed to Nigerians at no cost.
BUA Founder, Abdul Samad Rabiu had said the company “decided to secure these one million vaccines by paying the full amount for the vaccines today because these vaccines became available only last week through AFREXIM.”
“We expect the vaccines to be delivered within the next 14 days and hope priority will be given to our frontline workers who have committed their lives to managing the pandemic,” he added.
But in a controversial counter statement, CACOVID disowned the statement by the BUA group.
The coalition, in a statement by its Operations Committee, denied that BUA would singlehandedly secure the doses, adding that these claims are not factual.
“CACOVID is dismayed to learn of reports on social media today alleging that BUA is singlehandedly purchasing 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses for Nigeria. Alhaji Rabiu Abdulsamad must have been misquoted because these claims are not factual as CACOVID operates on a collegiate fund contribution model. There is no agreement between BUA, CACOVID and Afreximbank,” the statement reads.
“During the CACOVID weekly call of February 8th, Governor Emefiele, relayed to the larger group a call that he held with Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Herbert Wigwe with Afreximbank President, Benedict Oramah, on Sunday Feb 7th. President Oramah briefed the 3 CACOVID leaders on the $2 billion facility the Bank has set up with the African Union Vaccine taskforce to purchase vaccines for the African Continent. The allocation for Nigeria has been capped at 42 million doses. President Oramah explained that 1 million doses were ready for shipment to Nigeria in the next 2 weeks if a down payment was made by today, February 8th.”
According to CACOVID, the agreement was that $100 million would be contributed for the purchase of one million doses, in order to ensure that Nigeria meets up with the February 8 deadline for the down payment on the first tranche.
It added that purchase of the vaccine cannot be done by individuals or companies, but only through the Federal Government.
“At today’s meeting, CACOVID leadership agreed to contribute $100 million to procure vaccines for Nigeria, these 1 million doses from Afreximbank worth $3.45 million, being the very first tranche. CACOVID will purchase vaccines through other credible and subsidised mechanisms such as COVAX.
“The vaccines will be delivered to Nigeria and distributed through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA).
“CACOVID would like the Nigerian public to understand that vaccine purchase is only possible through the Federal Government of Nigeria, and that no individual or company can purchase vaccines directly from any legitimate and recognised manufacturer.”
In another counter statement titled: Don’t Play Politics With Nigerians’ Lives, BUA affirmed that it actually paid for the vaccine after extensive deliberations at the meeting and no agreement was reached by the members.
The company said it took it upon itself to pay for the 1million dose at $3.45 per dose totalling $3.450 million which translated to N1.311 billion, after extensive deliberations and no agreement was reached.
In order to meet the deadline, BUA explained that, on the directive of its Chairman after the meeting, it transferred the Naira equivalent to a dedicated CBN account from which the Apex Bank paid Afreximbank in dollars.
BUA said that it was therefore shocked with the reaction by the CACOVID Operations Committee, noting that, “with this development by the CACOVID Operations Committee, we now have just cause to believe that some members of CACOVID were not happy that BUA took this initiative in the interest of Nigerians and to ensure that the deadline was met and we received the 1 million doses of the vaccine next week.”
“We are aware that a prominent member of CACOVID is not happy that BUA took the initiative to pay for the vaccine – fulfilling our pledge as we promised during the meeting. Now they want to scuttle it by this action because they were unable to take the initiative,” the company added.
Though not spelt out, observers believe the “prominent member” mentioned by BUA Group in the statement refers to Dangote Group, its rival in the cement industry.
