The Federal Government on Tuesday announced that it would not coerce Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, or any state to take the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, made this known on Tuesday night during a live interview with the Punch on the covid-19 vaccine.

After his numerous claims and doubt about the existence of COVID-19 in Nigeria, Bello had publicly rejected the vaccine.

The governor emphasised that he won’t allow the people of Kogi to be used as guinea pigs, adding that the vaccine is not their priority.

When asked if the government would leave out Kogi State which has over four million people because of Bello’s statement, Mamora said:

“We have to weigh all that is involved. We are not going to compel anyone to take the vaccines. We are also conscious of the fact that even as of now, we don’t have enough vaccines.

“So, in essence, if a state through the governor or through any other person in that position says that we don’t want the vaccines in their states, we will not force that.

“Our priority will go to states that are willing and are ready and have even made requests to make the vaccines. Even the Bible says, ‘Ask and it shall be given.’ We will give to those states that have requested for it.”

“But if a state decides not to ask for it, we are not going to compel such state if they don’t want it.

Lagos, Ekiti, Ogun States, amongst others have received their share of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.