NAFDAC Disrupts Anti-COVID-19 Herbal Drug Unveiling In Ogun State
At a time of global health emergency when other countries of the world have activated every efforts towards finding the vaccine or drug for the COVID-19 pandemic; the officials of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control led by Prof. Moji Adeyeye, on Thursday disrupted the unveiling of an anti-coronavirus herbal syrup in Abeokuta, Ogun State.A herbal medicine expert, Paul Oni, had planned to unveil the anti-COVID-19 herbal syrup branded, ‘Oxibiotics,’ at the Centenary Hall, Ake, on Thursday.The programme was stopped by the officials of NAFDAC who ordered its cancellation.Oni, was subsequently taken to his factory which was inspected and sealed by NAFDAC officialsAddressing journalists after his factory was sealed, Oni expressed worry over the increase in COVID-19 cases in the country.Oni, who is the Managing Director of Peculiar Projects Nigeria Limited, lamented outrageous approval levies by the NAFDAC.He said the cost approval which, was about N600,000 with payment of N1.5m for clinical trials were unaffordable for him .He said “So, when I saw the cost, I concluded that I should seek for help through a press conference. I am sure this herb can help people that have contracted COVID-19,” he said.A top official of NAFDAC told our correspondent that the programme was stopped because the product had not been certified.