Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday received the country’s share of a purported coronavirus herbal cure, COVID-Organics.
The made-in-Madagascar cure was delivered to Buhari by Equatorial Guinea president, Umaru Sissoco Embalo, who was in Abuja on an official visit.
Buhari subsequently ordered that the consignment be sent to the necessary regulatory bodies for tests before a decision on administering it will be made.
“We have our institutions, systems and processes in the country. Any such formulations should be sent to them for verification. I will not put it to use without the endorsement of our institutions,” he stressed.
Madagascar donated a consignment of the controversial cure to the West African bloc, ECOWAS. The donation was sent through Guinea Bissau. A number of countries have received their supplies according to reports.
The ECOWAS Commission weeks back dismissed reports that it had ordered for the cure. It said it supported traditional efforts for medical cure but would only endorse scientifically approved drugs.
My position regarding all herbal or traditional medicines is that any such formulations should be sent to the statutory regulators for thorough scientific verification. We will not put anything to use in Nigeria without the endorsement of our regulatory institutions.
— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) May 16, 2020