On April 28, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha assured the people that the government was mindful of the growing pandemic in the Nation and revealed that Nigeria was willing to import and commence drug trials of COVID Organics which is a herbal drug produced in Madagascar.
In his words
I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping a tab.
I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared.
This morning I was sharing with my wife and I told her that probably I would request that Mr President allows us import a plane load for a trial.
On Monday, May 11, Mustapha reported that Nigeria is set to receive the herbal drug which has been sent to Equatorial Guinea and will be airlifted to the Federal Capital Territory.
The transportation of the consignment will be carried out by the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 under the directive of the President.
Upon arrival, the products will be subjected to further analysis and validation which will be carried out by the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC)
According to the Nation source:
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.”
At a press briefing in Abuja, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, revealed that after this validation, the drug trial will be done in the Federal Capital Territory and five states—Lagos, Ogun, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kano.
It’s quite unfortunate that we enjoy products made in other countries all the time, forgetting that if those persons were not supported by their nation such product wouldn’t have seen the light of the day. No one is showing concerns to products made locally to address the covid 19 in Nigeria like the pax herbal drug…
I hope we know what we are doing