Nigeria's Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire revealed that plant extract in Madagascar's Herbal drug for Coronavirus grows in the country.
 
Speaking at the daily pfa the presidential task force on Covid-19 on may 11. He said that the herbal drug was will be subjected to analysis by the National institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) to determine its efficiency  and safety before use.

In his statement "We are going to get samples of the herb of the botanical product for analysis and also probably use that opportunity to speak with the health authorities there particularly the scientific community on how they use it.

"We will also give it to the research community here with us to examine and see what they can do with it.

"We understand that it is something called Artemisia Annua, which also grows here. But we would like to get that sample and compare it with the strain hereto know if they are exactly identical or similar and then see what properties it has.

"It will be subjected to analysis to find out what works in there and how it works and is used in getting a cure. All countries around the world are interested in finding a cure and we are not different; So we'll look at all options and promises that have been made.

"Before we give any of these medicines to our people we will make sure they are actually safe and they work."

He also said that he will encourage local producers for increased production of personal protective equipment(PPE).

He added;

"Some Nigerian manufacturers of PPEs have made presentations to us and shown us samples of what they can make. We have sent those samples to the Nigerian Centre of Disease Control (NCDC) to look at it to see if they are well constructed and if the materials used are good.

"Once we have the go-ahead, we definitely prefer Local production of Personal Protective equipment to foreign, ones first because they are fast and quick, and also because they create jobs and stimulate the economy. We give preference to local manufacturers."