The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, has warned that Nigerians who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 risked dying from the virus or may be unable to travel out of the country without being inoculated.

Mustapha stated this while commissioning a COVID-19 isolation centre installed at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

The COVID-19 Presidential Task Force (PTF) chairman also spoke on the efficacy and safety of COVID-19 vaccines being procured by the Federal Government, saying ‘‘the vaccines are safe, effective and for our benefit.’’

The SGF said, ‘‘We will appeal and explain to our people that if you do not take the vaccine, the danger of falling terribly sick and eventually dying is there.

‘‘We will be blunt to them that if you don’t take the COVID-19 vaccine, you may not be able to go anywhere in the world, very soon. Even when you want to go and perform your spiritual obligation, that will be subjected to your COVID-19 status.’’

On conspiracy theories surrounding the vaccines, he said: ‘‘I don’t believe anyone will spend billions of dollars in manufacturing vaccines in order to kill us in Africa.’’

Also speaking during the commissioning, President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, said it was important for Nigerians to take the vaccines to safeguard themselves.

‘‘The Latin says mens sana in corpore sano, a healthy mind in a healthy body. To keep your body healthy, you have to have a healthy mind and a healthy mind is what is necessary to keep you and your family safe,’’ said Gambari.