IMMEDIATE past President, Nigerian Academy of Science and a Professor of Public Health, Prof. Oyewale Tomori has said Nigeria can vaccinate nothing less than 30 million children against polio with available resources.

Tomori spoke at the 6th Distinguished lecture of the University of Medical Sciences, UNIMED, in Ondo on the topic "Nigeria:  A Nation Playing Poker With Public Health.

According to him "the N13.5 million monthly allowance of all the senators  when put together in a year would vaccinate nothing less than 30 million children against polio in Nigeria.

He said the amount of money being looted by those at the helm of affairs was enough to provide health facilities across the country and protect the public from disease outbreaks.

The guest lecturer added that individuals had also contributed to the deplorable conditions of public health in the country, saying concerted efforts was needed to save the sector.

“It is in Nigeria where the EFCC  recovered funds from corrupt elements. Imagine the positive effect on the socio-economic development of the nation, were such looted funds used judiciously. 

“Add to the insult of the barefaced looting, the fact that 109 senators,as revealed by one of them receive N13.5 million allowance per month amounting to N17 billion per annum. 

“Just one year allowance of all our senators can fully vaccinate 30 million Nigerian children.

“Leaders that invest on the well-being of their people reap rewards in economic growth and social well being. When our leaders invest in corruption, poor governance and iniquity, we the people get sumptuous Returns on Investment

“Added to this criminal neglect of laboratory service by the government is the inglorious role played by some us scientists. On the rare occasion when government uncharacteristically provided supporting funds to improving the health facilities, some of us pocketed the part of the funds, colluded with suppliers and purchased unsuitable laboratory equipment,” he said.

The pioneer vice Chancellor of Redeemer University Ede called on the Nigerian leaders to desist from frequent traveling abroad for medical attention rather develop the health facilities in the country for the citizens to benefit.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Friday Okonofua described the guest lecturer as one of the leading international icons of public health.

Okonofua noted that the lecture "would help the institution in no small measure to rethink the health strategies of the country and reposition it to develop appropriate research around public health and development.

According to him "the university has truly come of age with successes recorded in few years of existence, noting that the institution would churn its first graduates in December this year.

The Vice Chancellor said the institution had obtained full accreditation of the NUC in it'd six coursed in the Faculty of Natural Sciences while the institution would soon receive a team from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria for the final accreditation of the Pathology and Pharmacology courses.