“Red Tape has Killed more People than Bullets”-Ben Dova

“We must observe all these processes, so it is not a quick one”, Mamora

“There is no single drug to cure COVID-19-Boss Mustapha

“The antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of chloroquine contribute to the efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients”-Prof Adeyeye

“We look at what the WHO recommend and we also ask our scientists here for their recommendations” –Prof Ehanire

“There are promising results by researchers but no drug is approved for use for COVID-19 treatment-NCDC, DG Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu

Madagascar has 148 cases, 101 recoveries, and 0 deaths.

As debate on principles, procedures and adherence to international best practices rage, Nigerians are dying from Covid19.

Prof. Osagie Ehinare, Health Minister

Way back in March 2020, the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control, NAFDAC, Prof Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, asked May and Baker, to prepare for the production of chloroquine for the treatment of Covid19 in Nigeria.

After confirming possibilities of getting the Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient, API, of the drug, NAFDAC directed May and Baker to produce the drug.

Prof. Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye, NAFDAC DG

Thus far, nothing else has been heard on the outcome of that effort as Nigerians die daily.

This development becomes very disturbing and at the same time fuel speculations that there is more to this Covid19 than the public is told.

If not,  why has  NAFDAC, which said it is giving expedited provisional approvals for the manufacture of any commodities for preventing/contracting the disease such as sanitizers, drugs and medical devices that could be used for the clinical trial, testing and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic suddenly gone mute?

NAFDAC earlier statement that the Agency has reduced the 120 working days for approval to 10 days due to the Covid19 crisis has either been gagged or directed to stop media engagements as Nigerians die in numbers from the Virus.

Cut the Red Tape Profs, Nigerians are dying. The Minister of Health Prof Osagie Ehanire and NAFDAF Director General, Prof Mojisoal Adeyeye, Cut the Red Tape.

Prof Adeyeye alluded to the efficacy of Chloroquine as a drug to treat Covid19 when she said:

 “Chloroquine works by increasing endosomal pH from the acidic environment required for virus/cell fusion, resulting in the inhibition of infection of SARS-CoV. It also interferes with the glycosylation of cellular receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2.

“This may inhibit the virus-receptor binding and terminate the infection. The antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of chloroquine contribute to the efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients”.

If Prof Adeyeye does not know what she is talking about concerning the use of Chloroquine as cure for Covid19, it will amount to monumental tragedy for Nigeria.

Asked to explain where Nigeria is on the possibility of getting an indigenous cure for the Virus from the many claims made by Nigerians, the Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said “We are still on it. We are still collecting interests and research findings from those who have said they have herbal drugs for the treatment of coronavirus”.

Mamora further stated that “A lot has been said on herbs and some other concoctions prepared for the treatment of the disease but we can’t start administering it on patients as there are laid-down guidelines on the testing and approval of drugs before they are dispensed to patients”.

Senator Mamora talked about certifications and approvals by NAFDAC, clinical trials, Volunteers who must accept in writing for any Covid19 drug to be tried on them, confirmations that the drugs are okay for human consumption, effectiveness, side effects etc.

“We must observe all these processes, so it is not a quick one”, Mamora declared.

Minister of State for Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora

Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Boss Mustapha, basically told Nigerians to forget getting a cure approved by the Federal Government for months to come when he told news men:

“There is no single drug to COVID-19 that I know of from all the literatures. Everybody is trying his hands on one thing or the other, even bigger economies with established medical infrastructure. Today is Hydroxychloroquine, tomorrow is another thing. And after a while, you hear those treatment prescribed being discredited”.

“We are looking at all the options and suggestions. We are looking at what is happening in Senegal, Madagascar and we are also looking internally and urging our scientists and researchers to come up with solutions and go through revalidation processes, who knows, a cure can emerge from our country”.

Bureaucracy, Red Tape, Due Process could be grave obstacles to progress. If Nigeria insists on observing all protocols in the quest for a cure for Covid19, the next two years may not be enough.

The situation is critical and very urgent. Nigerians are dying. The economy is crumbling, poverty is a walking monster, restiveness a threat.

From all the claims to Covid19 cure made by Nigerian professors and Pharmacists, there is bound to be one which could save the lives of Nigerians.

Let us cut the red tape and rescue citizens of the world from the choking claws of Covid19.

According to Javier Pascual Salcedo “Bureaucracy is the art of making the possible impossible”

Another great thinker submitted that he would rather “Battle a demon from Hell than grapple with the bureaucracy of man.”

Nigerians have the capacity, the know-how and enough herbs from which a cure for Covid19 could be found.

Saving humanity should be the primary, overriding interest at this very trying time.