The Nigerian government has inaugurated a Ministerial Committee on Covid-19 herbal remedies and natural compounds in a bid to find indigenous cure for Covid-19.

Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu while inaugurating the committee, stated that the Committee became imperative because Covid-19 remains a threat to the health and well-being of Nigerians and the national economy and reiterated an urgent need to develop a home-grown remedy and vaccine to tackle the virus.

Dr. Onu said the Committee, made up of eminent scientists and fellows of the Nigerian Academy of Science is to authenticate claims by researchers, scientists, and traditional medical practitioners of cure and herbal remedies for Covid-19.

The committee will vigorously scrutinize and evaluate all claims brought before it, identify the remedies with the brightest prospects for cure and prevention of the virus. “I have no doubt that the discovery of a cure for Covid-19 in Nigeria would enhance the standing of our dear nation in the comity of nations”.

“The quest for a home-grown remedy for Covid-19 by the Ministry is in tandem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s desire to diversify the economy’’.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Ministerial Committee and President of the Nigerian Academy of Science, Emeritus Prof. Motso Onuoha said Nigerians have the capacity to find solutions to the global Covid-19 pandemic. He also said the committee will work closely with all relevant stakeholders to scrutinize and verify claims on the cure for Covid-19.

Nigeria’s coronavirus case as at press time stood at 56,388 with 1,083 deaths and 44,337 recoveries.