By Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja Bureau)
The Chief of Staff to the President, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, Monday, received the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The vaccine was administered on Ambassador Gambari, foremost international diplomat, former Minister of Foreign Affairs during Buhari’s first coming in 1984, and current Chief of Staff to the President by the Chief Nursing Officer of the State House Clinic, Esther Ibrahim.
Professor Gambari took his own jab after President Muhammadu Buhari had, on Saturday, received the vaccine dose publicly alongside Vice President Yemi Osinbajo inside the New Banquet Hall of the State House, Abuja.
That was in the presence of members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, senior government officials and journalists.
The public vaccination commenced on Friday with some frontline health workers to reassure Nigerians of the safety and the efficacy of the vaccines.
The foremost diplomat was later presented with a vaccination card by the Chief Medical Director of the State House Medical Centre, Dr Hussain Munir.
Apart from Professor Gambari, a former military administrator of Lagos and Borno states, and the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig-Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (rtd), also received his jab at 10:39 am, while the Permanent Secretary of the State House, Tijjani Umar, received his at 10:11:43am and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, received his at 10:41 am.
Dr Munir thereafter handed them their vaccination card. In his remarks, Professor Gambari, who said the vaccination was painless, explained that he followed the footsteps of President Buhari.
He advised eligible Nigerians to take the vaccines, assuring them of its safety and efficacy. He added that “the more Nigerians are vaccinated the more we are safe.”
Marwa, while speaking, said the vaccine is painless and he feels good. He congratulated Nigerians that the vaccines are now in Nigeria and urged Nigerians to take the vaccine, expressing optimism that the country will soon be COVID-19 free.
Recall The New Diplomat earlier reported how President Buhari and his Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo received their vaccines on Saturday.
Buhari in his address had urged state governments and religious leaders to take the lead and mobilise people for the vaccination.
