The continuous rise of the novel Coronavirus codenamed COVID – 19, in Nigeria, Africa, and the whole world has ring an alarming call to the ears of Nigerian Government to see into swift ways and strategies of containing the pandemic in the country.
The case of Corona Virus in other part of the world has reduced, lockdown and other preventive measures have been relieved, people are getting back to the street, Normalcy is being restored, but reverse is the case in Nigeria.
Is Nigeria Really the Giant of Africa?
I doubt this cliché, because a Giant Nation must engage in Giant strides setting the pace for other countries within the continent to follow!
Going far to the Europe, American Continent is a stress, taking a glance at few African countries that have turn out to be overcoming the Pandemic, has visualize the fact that Nigeria Government is lagging behind in the race to end this deadly unwanted disease.
The recent trend of the locally made vaccine by a Madagascar doctor that has gone far in curing and preventing this virus has made Madagascar to be the cynosure in the eyes of all African countries, and has put a dirty slap on the face of Nigerian authorities.
Madagascar with this epoch – making development has move a step ahead of other countries as they occur to be the African Country with highest speed of recovery with 132 total cases, 94 recovered cases and 0 deaths.
Nigeria is a country blessed with a lot of natural herbs and roots, but it’s government turned the deaf ears to run a test if it could work.
On the 30th of March, 2020, A Frontline monarch in Yoruba land, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adwyeye Ènìyàn Ogunwusi released the list of potential Yoruba herbs that can help in the prevention and cure of Corona virus.
Ooni made mentioned of Bitter Leaf, Neem Leaf, Onions, Ogirisako, Imi Ọjo and other Yoruba herbs material that could possibly be of help but it got ridiculous response and reaction from the government.
I couldn’t figure out the reason Nigeria government cannot put these herbal ingredient into test, pending the time the “Oyinbo – made” vaccines would be discovered and ready for use.
Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde who earlier contracted the CoronaVirus narrated how he used olive oil and Blackseed Oil as local remedy ingredient that helped him recovered swiftly from the disease.
Everyday, We wake up to a daily greenish pictorial update by the National Council for Disease Control (NCDC) which gives sad and disheartening report of the cases Nigeria detects on daily basis.
Base on the information released by NCDC at the 2355hrs of the 2nd of May, 2020, Nigeria recorded 220 New cases, with the total of 2388, 385 cases discharged, and 85 death, with Lagos and Kano as epicenters.
In what additional way is the government trying to forestall this daily increasing alarming rate?
If we should have tested less than 20,000 people and we have over 2300 cases already, Nigeria seems to be sitting on a keg of gunpowder if these measures are not put into consideration.
Therefore, a test of this harmless local herbal ingredient on the cure of COVID-19 in Nigeria wouldn’t be a waste of time, and this can as well make a very great boost in Nigeria Socio – Economic status as neighboring countries would request for such remedy if it finally work out.
Kehinde Ayanboade writes from Ibadan, Oyo state capital.