By Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu has said the use of the much discussed Madagascar herbal remedy for treatment of COVID-19 patients in the country would be based purely on the findings of the nation’s scientists.

He said this process was necessary to ensure efficacy of any herbal remedy for the treatment of the disease.

Expectations were, however, high that Nigeria would adopt the Madagascar remedy for the country as cases continue to increase daily.

Buhari spoke in Abuja at the weekend, during a meeting with President of Guinea Bissau, Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who brought along with him the samples of the traditional medicine as shared to African nations by Madagascar.

The President said that his position on all such herbal or traditional medicinal postulates had remained consistent with the nation’s established scientific processes.

“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,” said the Nigerian President.

On the main reason for his visit, President Embalo said having stabilized his country after the tussles that attended the general elections won by him, 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 these demands, the Nigerian leader commended “General“ Embalo on his confirmation as President and for stabilizing the country. “I commend your political dexterity in getting the opposition to join the proposed unity government,” he said.

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,” assured the Nigerian President.

President Buhari also used the opportunity of the visit to commend the good work that the President of Niger Republic, Mahamadou Issoufou, the current Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was doing in the sub-region, especially  for keeping him informed of all developments.

NCDC Decries Poor Use of Cloth Mask

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) at the weekend said 176 new cases of COVID-19 was recorded, brings the number of infections in the country to 5,621.

NCDC also said that five new patients have been confirmed dead in the country, also bringing the total number of deaths to 176.

The 176 new cases, according to NCDC, came from 14 states:  Lagos (95), Oyo (31), FCT (11), Niger (8),Borno (8), Jigawa (6), Kaduna (4), Anambra (3), Edo (2), Rivers (2), Nasarawa (2), Bauchi (2), Benue  (1), Zamfara (1).

The NCDC noted that no new state reported a case in the last 24 hours.

The health agency said that as at May 16, 5621 cases have been confirmed with 3973 Active Cases, 1472 discharged cases and 176 deaths in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

NCDC raised the alarm that cloth masks could facilitate the spread of the disease if not handled.

Highlighting the merit and demerit of cloth face masks, NCDC said they were only convenient substitute to medical face masks for the current global situation.

It said, however, that it should not be worn by individuals who were at a high risk for complications.

According to the Centre, health care workers, people caring for the sick, experiencing respiratory symptoms like coughing and sneezing, with chronic medical conditions and the elderly should wear medical face masks.

“To protect yourselves and loved ones from COVID-19, cloth face masks must be worn in combination with, avoiding large gatherings, physical distancing by maintaining a distance of two metres between yourself and others.

“Regular hand washing with soap under running water. Frequent cleaning of surfaces with soap and water or disinfectants.

“Please adhere to the following guidelines for the use of cloth face masks, make sure the mask has been washed and is unused before first wear.

“Wash your hands with soap under running water before touching the mask. If water is not available, use a hand sanitiser.

“Cover your nose and mouth completely with the mask making sure it fits snuggly with no open gaps.

”Avoid touching or adjusting the mask while it is on. Wash or sanitise your hands before removing the mask by the straps.

“Wash the mask immediately with soap or detergent and allow to dry completely in the sun.Before re-use, iron the mask,” it advised.

 Kano Records Two More Deaths

Meanwhile, Kano State has recorded another two more deaths from coronavirus, bringing the total deaths in the state to 35, the state ministry of health stated this yesterday.

The Ministry on its Twitter handle, also said three more persons recovered from the disease and were discharged, bringing the total number recoveries to 93 in the state.

The NCDC also announced an additional five deaths across the country. However, it did not mention the state(s) where the deaths occurred. The statement from the Kano health ministry shows two of the deaths occurred in the state.

Confirmed cases, according to the state ministry, had risen to 761, second to that of Lagos.

Consequently, the ministry said the lockdown was still in place even as the as the state Governor, had announced ease of the lockdown on Mondays and Thursdays to enable residents to shop for Ramadan food items. He said only vegetables markets and abattoir are allowed to open during that period.

Keyamo Frowns at Criticism Trailing Madagascar Cure

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, has reacted to the criticism trailing the COVID-19 cure produced by Madagascar.

Keyamo, on his Twitter page, wondered if the criticism was because the cure was developed in Africa.

“I really don’t know why there’s so much fuss about the Madagascar recipe. Why heavily criticize what a country has discovered to make people recover NOW from the illness, whilst we continue to wait for the almighty vaccine from the @WHO? Or is it because it is an African country?

“Put in another way, why can’t we make do with what we have now, until we get what the world is waiting for?”

Let’s Unite Against COVID-19 – Bode George

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, has called for the unity of all Nigerians against COVID-19 pandemic.

George, in a statement yesterday in Lagos, said it was through unity of purpose and collective efforts of all citizens that the virus could be defeated.

He said that using the pandemic to play unnecessary partisan politics or stoke sectarian animosity would not do the nation any good at this trying period.

George said that the pandemic was about the survival of the nation, urging leaders and citizens to embrace a new nationalistic front to tackle the problem.

“We must never reduce this obvious national challenge to partisan feud. This is beyond section triumphalism or sectarian animosity.

“It is about the collective survival of our nation. Let us act by coming together, by discarding old divisions, and embracing a new nationalistic front that can hopefully salvage our country from this pandemic. “Let our leaders rise in the true spirit of national vision and mobilise our people towards rescue and redemption.

“This is indeed how nations are built and strengthened in times of great challenges. We must wield this country together now in one indivisible brotherhood.

 “There are no half measures. There are no separate ways. The solution must be collective, predicated in deliberately cultivated consensus,” he said.

George called for a “serious”, coherent, deliberate, aggregated and aggressive management of the pandemic.

He stressed the need for the citizens to effectively utilise expertise and explore all resources in the orthodox and traditional medical fields to fight the pandemic.

“Virtually in all fields of endeavour, there is always a Nigerian with sterling talent that can rival anyone, anywhere with prodigious exemplary demonstration of merit.

 “We have them here: virologists, epidemiologists, microbiologists, morbidity experts, homeostatic scholars and many others who are experts in the study of dysfunction of the human body.

“Why are we not using them to mitigate, combat and destroy the COVID-19 malady?”, he queried.