The Ministry of Finance, on Monday, released N10 billion to support domestic vaccines production to tackle COVID-19 pandemic in the Nigeria.

The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, made the known at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) COVID-19 briefing on Monday in Abuja.

Ehanire said: “The Ministry of Finance has released N10 billion to support domestic vaccine production.

“While we are working to develop our own vaccines, Nigeria is exploring options for licensed production, in collaboration with recognised institutions.

“The country is also exploring the option of local production of the vaccines in the country.”

The health minister appealed to Nigerians to ignore claims by some people that they had COVID-19 vaccines for sale in the country.

According to him, those claims are criminal as procedures for vaccine acquisition and use include appropriate regulations and certification by National Agency for Food and Drug and Administration and Control (NAFDAC).