The federal government has commenced the process to commercialise vaccine production facility of the national veterinary research institute, plateau state, which has been abandoned over the years.
The infrastructures of the institute which started vaccines production in 1961, were reported to have been obsolete and do not comply with good manufacturing practices needed to combat the deadly rinderpest disease in cattle.
Mohammed Bello Umar, permanent secretary, federal ministry of agriculture, on Tuesday said that national veterinary research institute was established to conduct research into all aspects of animal diseases, treatment and control.
Umar, while inaugurating the project delivery team in Abuja said that it is disheartening to note that vaccine production has been abysmally low despite the inherent potential of the vaccine production in Nigeria.
“Efforts to set up a vaccine company in the past was not only slow and frustrating but it was not carried to a successful completion. I therefore commend the efforts of the current management in reinvigorating the commercialisation process of vaccine production facility by incorporating a company called Vom biological products limited”.
He said that responsibility of the project delivery team includes drawing up of transaction proposal, develop terms of reference for transaction advisor, identify prospective investors among others.
The members of the team include selected members from ministry of agriculture, members of the bureau for public enterprises, members of the infrastructure concession regulatory commission (ICRC), members of Nigeria investment promotion council, special assistant to the president for agriculture, governing board of the national veterinary research institute,
Vom.
Olusa Busari, head, energy and urban infrastructure, ICRC, on behalf of the members of the project delivery team pledged the commitment of the team to ensure prompt delivery of projects, stressing that the commercialisation is a step in the right direction.
He said ” We will work together to ensure that we deliver on the project”.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
