The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, (SGF), Boss Mustapha, has said Nigeria did not ask Madagascar for “COVID Organics”, its herbal remedy for coronavirus.
Mustapha made this disclosure while speaking at the Presidential Task Force Briefing in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the SGF, the government of Madagascar decided to send the solution to African countries, and Nigeria’s portion is still stuck in Guinea Bissau.
He noted that efforts are being made for the herbal remedy to be airlifted to Nigeria.
The SGF said: “That has to be very clear, because I have seen some narratives out there giving credence to a line of story. For me, I think it is only distracting.
“Nigeria did not ask for it. The Madagascan Government decided to airlift quantities meant for the African countries.
“That of West Africa was taken to Guinea Bissau. So, all the West African countries — all members of ECOWAS — had their commodities offloaded in Guinea Bissau.
“And that was the one I was referring to that we were making arrangement to evacuate.
“But the impression out there is as if we abandoned home-grown solution and we were looking for Madagascan solution.”
He added: “We didn’t ask for it. But it was taken in the spirit of African brotherly love to Guinea Bissau.
“We have our ambassador there, to establish the location, the quantity and he has done that.
“We have to make arrangement for its freighting out of Guinea Bissau. There are no flights. So, there are many things we have to consider.
“So, can you explain that to Nigerians that Nigeria did not ask for it?
“It was brought for West African countries similarly to other parts of Africa.
“The consignment meant for West Africa was dropped in Guinea Bissau and every ECOWAS member has been asked to go to Guinea Bissau and pick it.”
