By Dara Cyril
The Federal Government has thrown its weight behind efforts by a team of Nigerian scientists led by renowned Professor of Pharmacognosy, Maurice Iwu to develop a drug, derived from local herbs, to treat the dreaded Coronavirus infection.
Minister of Science and Technology Dr Ogbonnaya Onu pledged the support in Abuja on Monday when Iwu led his team from Bioresources Institute of Nigeria (BION) to his office to brief him on efforts being made by the Institute to develop drugs to treat Neglected Tropical Diseases, Emergent Infections and Orphan Diseases, including Covid-19, also known as Coronavirus.
Onu, while praising the efforts of Iwu and his team, also announced that the Federal Government had set aside N36 million for Nigerian scientists who could develop a cure for either Lassa fever or Covid 19 adding that such patented agent should be made available to pharmacists and other related health workers for clinical testing and advice on the dosage.
The minister described the feat by Bioresources Institute of Nigeria as a right step to proving that as the largest population and market in Africa, there was a need for Nigeria to take the lead and propose a solution to global issues.
Also speaking at the event, Minister of State for Health, Adeleke Mamora, however, held that the move to such a discovery was a great feat which had to pass through the international procedures to be certified. He also promised that, the ministry would give the research all the required support to attain the expected height.
Dr. Adeleke went on to emphasize the need to apply caution in regard to the recent claims of cure for Covid-19, for every drug in the market was a potential poison if misused.
