Buhari Didn’t Ask Madagascar For COVID-19 Herbal Cure – Nigerian Govt
The Federal Government has faulted claims that President Muhammadu Buhari asked Madagascar to supply its coronavirus herbal medicine to Nigeria.
It would be recalled that the Chairman of Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 And Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha had revealed that Buhari ordered the importation of Madagascar COVID-19 herbal drug to Nigeria.
However, during the daily briefing on Thursday, Mustapha dismissed speculations that Nigeria asked Madagascar for supply of its Covid-19 organic instead of promoting local researchers for a cure.
The PTF Chairman noted that it was the East African country that ‘freely’ donated the herbal medicine to Nigeria on its own accord.
“The issue of Madagascar. Let me explain that Nigeria did not ask Madagascar for any solution. That has to be very clear because I have seen some narratives out there giving credence to a line of story that, for me, I think is only distractive. Nigeria did not ask.
“So, all the members of ECOWAS have their commodities off-loaded in Guinea-Bissau and that was the one I referred to, that we were making arrangements to evacuate but the impression out there was as if we abandoned homegrown solutions and we were looking for Madagascan solution.
“We did not ask for it, but it was taken in the spirit of brotherly love, or African brotherly love to Guinea-Bissau and we have asked our Ambassador there to establish the location, the quantity, etc.”
“He has done that. We have to make an arrangement for its freighting out of Guinea-Bissau. There are no flights, so there are so many things we have to consider.
“If we are air-freighting through air cargo, that has its process. So, please can you help us explain to Nigerians that Nigeria did not ask for it. It was brought for West African countries, similarly for other parts of Africa.”
Last month, Madagascar officially launched a local herbal remedy claimed to prevent and cure the novel coronavirus.
The herbal drink, which is called ‘COVID-Organics’ or CVO, is derived from artemisia – a plant with proven efficacy in malaria treatment – and other indigenous herbs.
