The federal government of Nigeria has received samples of Russia’s COVID-19 vaccine.

Alexey Shebarshin, Russia ambassador to Nigeria, delivered samples of the vaccine to Osagie Ehanire, minister of health, at his office in Abuja on Friday.

Olujimi Oyetomi, director of media and public relations at the ministry, disclosed this in a statement.

The minister of health said the samples will be subjected to evaluation by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and the Nigeria Institute of Pharmaceutical Research.

Russia announced a ”breakthrough” vaccine against COVID-19 in August.

Vladimir Putin, president of the East European country, had claimed that the vaccine was administered on his daughter and avowed its potency.

But the Russian vaccine has been received with cautious optimism across the world.

While some health experts say Russia skipped the third and most crucial stage of testing the drug before declaring it fit for human use, the country insists that it followed due health protocol.

There is a race among pharmaceutical behemoths in the West to produce a vaccine for COVID-19.

The likeliest time for a vaccine against the disease has been projected to be the third quarter of 2021.