Operatives of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Thursday interrupted the launching of an anti-COVID-19 herbal syrup in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
According to reports, a herbal medicine practitioner, Paul Oni planned to unveil the syrup at a briefing on Thursday at the Centenary Hall in the Ake axis of the state capital.
However, NAFDAC officials who stormed the venue in company with some policemen and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stopped proceedings of the programme.
Checkout Magazine learnt that the officials later led Oni to his factory where he planned to produce the herb and sealed the facility after inspecting it.
Briefing reporters after the factory was sealed, Oni lamented what he called outrageous approval levies by NAFDAC, saying he could not afford the outrageous cost of approval and clinical trials.
“The normal cost that you will incur in going through the NAFDAC process is about N600,000 which does not include the clinical trials of N1.5 million.
“So, when I saw the cost, I concluded that I should seek help through a press conference. I am sure this herb can help people that have contracted COVID-19,” he said.
The herbal medicine practitioner, who denied bypassing the agency’s procedures, explained that the programme was meant to seek partnership and support, as well as raise for a fund for the product to undergo the proper processes and certification.
