The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd .), has ordered the importation of the acclaimed coronavirus remedy by Madagascar to Nigeria.
Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID- 19, Boss Mustapha , made this known during a briefing in Abuja on Monday.
Mustapha , who is also the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, said, “ Madagascar has made allocations to various countries, and sent them to Guinea Bissau . We‘re supposed to make arrangements to freight Nigeria’s allocation from Guinea Bissau; it ‘ll be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals.
“ Mr President has given instructions for the airlifting of Nigeria’s allocation of the Madagascar COVID- 19 Syrup ; also given clear instructions that it must be subjected to the standard validation process for pharmaceuticals; there will be no exceptions for this .”
He assured Nigerians that the task force was intensifying efforts to stop the spread of the virus in Nigeria.
“ Nigeria has only one national response to the COVID- 19 pandemic. Where there are differing strategies is in the implementation of non - pharmaceutical interventions. But as far as the response is concerned, there is only one national response,” he added.
The PUNCH reports that Equatorial Guinea, Guinea-Bissau , Niger , and Tanzania have taken delivery of consignments of the potion , which was launched last month.
Madagascar said the drink is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven anti - malarial properties – and other indigenous herbs.
(The Punch)