Nigeria and other African countries have been offered the herbal drug used in the fight against COVID-19 produced by the Republic of Madagascar.
According to reports, Nigeria’s batch of the drug has been sent to Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.
The Federal Government has been put under pressure by different medical and scientific organizations to allow the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to subject the drug to further analysis.
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According to a source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 has been notified of the offer from Madagascar and arrangements were being made to bring Nigeria’s allocation to Abuja.
The source said:
The consignments of the drug are being distributed to different countries in Africa based on zonal grouping. We have been told that Nigeria’s consignment is in Equatorial Guinea from where it will be airlifted to Abuja.
When the herbal drink is brought into the country, we will know the next step. But some medical and scientific organisations are pressurising that the drug be subjected to clinical trial.
Some countries like Tanzania, Congo-Brazzaville, Guinea-Bissau and Equatorial Guinea have subscribed to the drugs. Also, while South Africa has offered to conduct a scientific analysis of the drug, Senegal said it will subject it to clinical trial.
I can assure you that the Federal Government will take the best decision on the drug in the overall interest of Nigerians.
Before any food or drug can be administered in this country, there are certain protocols that must be followed. The government will not circumvent these protocols. We want solution; we want the best for Nigerians.
As of Sunday, May 10, Nigeria’s COVID-19 positive tally moved to 4,399 with 248 new cases as announced by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC.
Lagos recorded 81 cases, followed by Jigawa State 35 and Borno 26 cases to top the chart. Kano recorded 26 cases, followed by Bauchi with 20 cases.
