We cant force Nigerians to take coronavirus vaccine - Sultan tells FG

Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar has said the Federal government cannot force Nigerians to receive the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine amid the second wave scare of the pandemic in the country.

He made this statement during the sensitisation programme on coronavirus vaccine for Muslim Scholars and Imams in Nigeria on Wednesday, January 27.

The Sultan who is also the President-General of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, noted that there are certain myths and talk of conspiracy theories which affect people's understanding of the vaccine.

“I believe that we cannot force people to take vaccine. There are myths, people talk of conspiracy theories.

I am not giving an answer to anything. If the vaccine is meant to kill us, will anybody wait for this COVID-19 vaccines before killing us? If anybody wants to kill us, there are millions and one ways to kill us. But I am not giving an answer to anything that the COVID-19 vaccine is this or that. The vaccines are free, we are not paying for the vaccine, it is your choice to take the vaccine,” he said.

According to the Sultan, the public needs to be sensitised on the importance of taking the vaccine.