Finding a COVID-19 vaccine is our priority – UK Envoy to Nigeria

The British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, in this exclusive interview with the Deputy Managing Editor of Daily Trust, Mr Nasir Imam, speaks on the UK’s support to Nigeria as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic and the global effort to further protect millions of children against infectious diseases by GAVI; the Vaccine Alliance. Daily Trust: […]

The British High Commissioner, Catriona Laing, in this exclusive interview with the Deputy Managing Editor of Daily Trust, Mr Nasir Imam, speaks on the UK’s support to Nigeria as the world battles the COVID-19 pandemic and the global effort to further protect millions of children against infectious diseases by GAVI; the Vaccine Alliance.

Daily Trust: Can you briefly tell us your experience so far in Nigeria?

Catriona Laing: First of all, let me say thanks to Daily Trust for this interview. It is always a pleasure to engage with the press across Nigeria, where I have been High Commissioner for more than 18 months now. I took up my duties in the middle of a vibrant election season, during which the press played an instrumental role in the democratic process. In my time as British High Commissioner to Nigeria, I have visited 11 states across five of the six geo-political zones – I had set a personal target to visit all 36 states in the federation and look forward to reaching that milestone although Covid-19 has thrown my plans into some disarray.

I can certainly say that my time in Nigeria has been eventful and my impression of Nigeria (and Nigerians) is one of vitality and enthusiasm – Nigerians are hardworking, colourful and share a genuine desire to make a better life for themselves. In the UK, we have a sizeable Nigerian diaspora with many Nigerian-British nationals excelling in sports, politics, academia and other fields in British society – names like Anthony Joshua, David Oyelowo, John Boyega, Helen Grant MP and Kate Osamor MP come to mind here.

It is a great honour and privilege to be British High Commissioner to Nigeria – a country with which we share such a long history and such deep bonds of friendship.  I would like to be remembered not just for being the first female British High Commissioner to Nigeria, but also as a friend and partner working together with Nigerians to achieve mutual objectives and to deepen a longstanding relationship.

DT: How will you assess the bilateral relations between both countries?

Laing: The United Kingdom is Nigeria’s oldest and closest friend.  We are proud of that strong and lasting partnership.

Recent high-profile exchanges such as President Buhari’s visit to Dumfries House at the invitation of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales in January 2020 ahead of the African Investment Summit in London, His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales’ visit to Nigeria in 2018 and His Royal Highness Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex’s visit to Nigeria earlier this year, are a testament to the important position Nigeria maintains in our esteem.

The unique relationship between our two nations also means we are able to support Nigeria in innovative and sustainable ways – such as through our UK-Nigeria Tech Hub.  This is part of our International Tech Hubs network support to entrepreneurs to acquire the skills, resources and connections needed to accelerate their start-up journey through a year-round calendar of activities and events.

Our immediate current focus is, of course, on working with the Nigerian government to tackle COVID-19. We are working with the Ministry of Health and Nigerian Centre for Disease Control to support the public health response to the pandemic, both in terms of testing and monitoring the spread of the disease and providing treatment.

We are working with the Ministry of Finance and other parts of the government on the economic response, offering support to relieve some of the negative consequences that COVID-19 is having on people’s ability to make a living.

We are working with the government to tackle the wider impacts that COVID-19 is having on society, for example its role in fuelling tensions and conflicts in some parts of the country and in creating the conditions for an alarming rise in domestic and gender-based violence.

Taking a longer-term perspective, bilateral trade between the United Kingdom and Nigeria has long been a cornerstone of our relationship.  It consistently reaches into billions of pounds each year.

Beyond trade, we have a broad range of ambitions including unlocking barriers to development in health, education and infrastructure, supporting efforts to tackle conflict, supporting the stabilisation of the North East of Nigeria and supporting efforts to achieve full gender equality and tackle gender-based violence. As we look to the coming years, we will work together to achieve bold steps on tackling climate change, championing human rights and supporting sustainable development.

DT: The UKAID has supported local organizations in giving supports to displaced communities in the northeast. Can you give us the details of the agency’s humanitarian aid in the Nigeria?

Laing: The UK was one of the first countries to respond to the humanitarian crisis in north east Nigeria. As the second largest donor, the UK is one of the leading international donors to the humanitarian response in north east Nigeria. Over five years (2018 -2022), £300m of UK aid will deliver: food assistance to up to 1.5m people; treatment for up to 120,000 children at risk from Severe Acute Malnutrition; support to give 100,000 children an education; and safe transport for aid and aid workers.

Our work in the north east also covers the delivery of a range of defence engagements including delivering train the trainer packages, advice on institutional reform, and pre-deployment training, designed to enhance their ability to engage and defeat enemy combatants, and defend territory, whilst complying with the law of armed conflict and positively engaging with marginalised groups. We’re also supporting the Nigeria Police Force and other security and justice actors in their efforts to protect civilians and uphold the rule of law. We also support demobilisation and community reintegration efforts alongside DFID’s ongoing humanitarian support and longer term recovery and development programming.

DT: The United Kingdom partnered with Nigeria in the repatriation of British nationals from Nigeria and vice versa. How many Britons have been repatriated from Nigeria and in how many trips?

Laing: By June 8, we will have repatriated more than 2,500 people on flights chartered by the UK government. The British High Commission in Abuja and Deputy High Commission in Lagos have worked tirelessly to get stranded British nationals home to their families.  We are currently organising our third phase of flights, which will be the last special charter flights that we organise.

DT: Why are many British nationals leaving Nigeria? Were they not confident with Nigeria’s health system?

Laing: The return flights to the United Kingdom are intended for short-term travellers to Nigeria, rather than long-term residents of Nigeria. As the Nigerian Minister for Foreign Affairs noted in previous remarks, many individuals will draw comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic in being able to access a health system they are familiar with and engage with doctors they know. Equally, many short-term travellers will rightly want to return home rather than stay overseas. We are immensely proud of our National Health Service, and recognise that many individuals will feel most comfortable engaging with a health system they know and are familiar with.

The decision to advise our citizens to return to the United Kingdom was part of a global announcement, not specific to Nigeria. The British Foreign Secretary issued a global travel advice recommending all British citizens return to the United Kingdom, which applied to all countries and territories across the world. This approach was echoed by many other countries, including the United States and European nations.

DT: What can you tell us about the UK-hosted Global Vaccine Summit on June 4?

Laing: The UK has made finding a vaccine for COVID-19 top priority. A vaccine will protect people in the UK and across Africa, including Nigeria. We are the largest donor to the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and have committed £250m in the search for a vaccine. British universities, Oxford and Imperial, are leading COVID-19 vaccine research.

On Thursday June 4, the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hosted the Global Vaccine Summit. Representatives of over 50 countries, including at least 35 heads of state or government, as well as leaders of private sector organisations and civil society, came together to raise funds for GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. We were pleased to welcome Nigeria’s Minister for Health Dr Osagie Ehanire.

The UK is proud to lead international calls to mobilise at least $7.4bn for GAVI’s mission to protect the next generation with vaccines, reduce disease inequality and create a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. As he said in his opening address to the delegates, we really hope this summit will be the moment when the world comes together to unite humanity in the fight against disease.

Here in Nigeria, with the yearly cohort of 8.4m, Nigeria has the highest immunisation target in the world. Over the years, GAVI has provided over $3bn to support Nigeria in its immunisation campaign.  If coverage targets are met, support to Nigeria from GAVI is projected to prevent over 1 million vaccine-preventable deaths from 2018 to 2028 and will protect millions of children from measles, meningitis and Yellow Fever by 2022-2023.

So, as I have tried to set out here, GAVI’s work is set to continue beyond last Thursday’s summit in ways that will provide increased direct support to Nigeria and to other countries across the world.  This support will increase immunisation rates, identify and fill funding gaps and build on existing political will to work with local and international development partners to improve the collective fight against deadly viruses all over the globe.