President Muhammadu Buhari has received a native remedy for the COVID-19 from Madagascar.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, announced this on Saturday in a series of tweets.
According to Mr Garba, samples of the native remedy were brought by the President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Embalo.
However, he noted that President Buhari reiterated that all necessary procedures will be put in place before allowing traditional or any new medicines to be administered on Nigerians.
“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,” Buhari was quoted to have said.
This comes days after the World Health Organisation (WHO) said it had met with 70 traditional medicine experts in a bid to find a cure for the COVID-19.
The health organisation said an agreement was reached with the herbal medicine experts on clinical trials of their remedies.
“70 traditional medicine experts from countries across #Africa held a virtual meeting with @WHO on the role of traditional medicine in the #COVID19 response.
“They unanimously agreed that clinical trials must be conducted for all medicines in the Region, without exception,” the WHO had tweeted.
The meeting also came a day after Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina batted away criticism for promoting a homegrown “remedy” for the COVID-19, charging that the west has a condescending attitude towards traditional African medicine.
Meanwhile, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on Friday, announced that five states in the country will also be participating in the ongoing solidarity trial for a treatment for the COVID-19, sponsored by the WHO.
The virus has so far infected 5,445 people and claimed 171 lives in Nigeria which is Africa’s most populous nation of 200 million inhabitants.
The “Big Brother”
Away from discussions around the COVID-19, and to the main purpose of his visit, President Embalo said having stabilised his country after the tussles that attended the general elections which he won, he had come to seek counsel from his “father,” President Buhari on his plan for a “government of national unity” and a proposed war against corruption in his country.
He also said that his new government met a country beset with a number of issues and problems, the resolution of which would require tremendous assistance from the “big brother,” Nigeria.
“Problems of Guinea Bissau are problems of Nigeria. I have come to you as your son. I need your help and assistance to make the people happy. I will not let you down, neither will I put you in any difficult situation,” the visiting leader told President Buhari.
In response to the demands, the Nigerian leader commended “General” Embalo on his confirmation as President and for stabilising the country. “I commend your political dexterity in getting the opposition to join the proposed unity government,” he said.
Speaking further, President Buhari restated the determination of Nigeria to keep West Africa politically stable and promised to support the new government in Guinea Bissau. “I will cooperate and help in every way possible,” he assured.
President Buhari also used the opportunity of the visit to praise the good work that the President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, who is the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is doing in the sub-region, and commended him for keeping him informed of all that is happening around.
