Despite claims of a possible COVID-19 cure by some traditional practitioners, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it has only received one application to endorse a product as a possible treatment option for the symptoms of the virus.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Director-General of the agency, Moji Adeyeye said other claims about a possible cure for COVID-19 only exists on social media and the pages of newspapers.
Moji Adeyeye’s statement is in reaction to several claims by some Alternative Medicines Practitioners that they have a cure for COVID-19.
The Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who is one of Nigeria’s most influential traditional rulers had claimed to have a cure for the virus currently ravaging the world.
The minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire earlier said all herbal medicines in Nigeria must be tested by the agency to prove the efficacy of the drugs.
He also said such drugs will first be tested on animals before it can be certified.
Moji Adeyeye said practitioners who claimed to have a cure for the virus are yet to submit an application to test the efficacy of their drugs.
She said the only application received is for treating the symptoms of the virus and not the virus itself.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) as at the time of this press release has only received application from one company for a product the company is presenting (for approval) to the Agency for the treatment of the symptoms of Covid-19 and not for the cure of Covid-19 as a disease.
“A claim of a cure must be subjected to clinical evaluation through well-controlled, randomized clinical trials following an approved clinical trial protocol,” she said.
