Republic of Madagascar has asked Nigeria to pay 170,000 Euros (N78, 200,000) for the ‘COVID-19 cure’ herbal drugs sent to the Federal Government, it emerged on Monday.
TheNation made this known in a recent report, as the media outlet claimed Madagascar sent an invoice to Nigeria as the drug was not made available for free.
Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja on Saturday, brought the drugs allocated to Nigeria by Madagascar.
Read Also: COVID-19: Buhari Receives Madagascar’s Cure, Says It Will Be Verified
President Buhari had said the country would take the drug through intensive test to determine its suitability.
However, the quantity of the consignment sent to Nigeria through Guinea Bissau is yet to be ascertained.
In a new report, TheNation’s source has now said;
For our consignments in Guinea Bissau, Madagascar has asked Nigeria to pay over €170,000 (N78, 200,000). We have received the invoice because the African country has made us to realise that the drugs are not being given out free.
We are being asked to pay for the drugs yet to be validated. Since the AU directed the supply of the drugs to African countries, we may have no choice than to pay for it.
This payment may, however, be one-off because mass importation of the drugs from Madagascar will not be cost effective. By the time we take into account the cost of freight, the amount will be too high.
Though, the Federal Government is yet to officially confirm this report.
As at press time, Nigeria, according to Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), has recorded 5,959 confirmed cases, 1594 recoveries and 182 casualties.
