The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said the Federal Government had signed a deal approving hazard allowances for health workers involved in the COVID-19 containment.

He said the agreement had been forwarded to the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed.

Ehanire noted that the Nigerian Medical Association and other stakeholders were present at the signing of the deal, which had also been forwarded to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.

Meanwhile, The Chairman of the Presidential Task force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, has told Nigerians not to expect a coronavirus vaccine until 2021.

Mustapha said,

“Ordinarily, from the little literature I have read on COVID 19, we are not expecting any vaccine to be on the shelves until towards the end of 2021. That is for industries that have perfected the processes of manufacturing of this vaccine.”

The SGF also challenged the private sector to continue to support the government in order to fortify the health system and infrastructure against present and future pandemics.

Responding to a question, the SGF said hotels accommodating Nigerians evacuated from abroad would be decontaminated after 14 days isolation of the returnees before receiving a new batch.