By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Apparently worried over the negative comments on the Federal Government’s decision to allow the importation of a herbal products from Madagascar called Covid- Organic, the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has said that Nigeria did not ask for the herbal products.
He also urged any Nigerian scientist and researcher who has developed herbal products to approach relevant federal government agencies especially National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) validation and approval to produce.
Speaking on Thursday in Abuja during the daily press briefing of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on Covid-19 pandemic, Mustapha frowned at the insinuations in the public space that Nigeria requested for the herbal products from Madagascar.
“We did not ask for Madagascar herbal products as some people would want the public to believe. It is not true that we requested for them. The truth is that they are meant for African Union and the consignments meant for West African countries were dropped off in Guinea Bissau and Nigeria has not even picked her consignment”, the SGF explained.
Mustapha who is also the Chairman of PTF on Covid-19 pandemic disclosed that government has directed Nigerian Ambassador to Guinea Bissau to secure Nigeria’s consignment.
Meanwhile, Mustapha has warned those who have made the PTF on Covid-19 pandemic secretariat a dumping ground for their “Covid-19 herbal drugs” to desist from approaching him but should rather go to the relevant federal government agencies to validate their products.
“I want to advise those who bring their products to PTF that they should know the right place to go. The protocol is to submit the products to appropriate agencies.
” There are several agencies and institutions set up by the Federal Government to undertake such duties as validation and approval for such products. Don’t bring them to the PTF. We will not takeover the primary responsibilities of the agencies set up by the Federal Government decades ago to carry out such duties”, Mustapha concluded.
This may have laid to rest agitations by indigenous scientists and researchers like Professor Maurice Iwu who has been seeking the Federal Government’s attention for the quick validation of his herbal products which he claims to have the efficacy of curing SARS which is actually in the same category with Covid-19.
