Nigeria is beginning mass Covid-19 immunisation in the capital, Abuja, using Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines acquired through Covax - a UN-backed initiative to ensure poorer nations acquire the doses.

Frontline health workers will be the first to get the jabs, according to the head of the country’s Healthcare Development Agency.

The elderly and people with underlying conditions will also be prioritised.

President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo will receive their jabs on Saturday.

The country received a shipment of nearly four million doses of the vaccines earlier this week.

The government said about 50% of Nigerians have expressed willingness to be vaccinated against Covid-19.