The Chinese Government has donated 470,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to the Nigerian Government.

Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, CUI Jianchun, made the donation to Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Osagie Ehanire, in Abuja on Friday.

Jianchun said the gesture was a result of the good relationship between Nigeria and China, adding that the efforts to eliminate the COVID-19 pandemic required the collaboration of all countries.

The ambassador, however, warned against politicizing issues surrounding COVID-19 or blaming China for the outbreak.

Jianchun noted that China would support Nigeria in vaccine production in the long run.

He said: “Nigeria is a very important country to China due to its population and size,” Jianchun said.

“COVID-19 is a health issue. We need cooperation. We need unity to overcome COVID-19.”

While responding, Ehanire, commended the Chinese government for the gesture, adding that the donation was timely.

The minister said that Nigeria stopped vaccination on July 8 due to lack of vaccines but with the donation, vaccination of citizens would resume in earnest.

Ehanire called for collaborations and exchange of information on ways to eliminate COVID-19.