Professor Adeshola Olatunde Adepoju, the Director-General, Forestry Institute of Nigeria (FRIN), Ibadan, Oyo State, has revealed that the research institute has produced a Covid-19 mixture, that has been tested and proved capable of treating all symptoms of the dreaded virus.
Professor Adepoju, in an interview with Guardian newspaper, further revealed that FRIN was only waiting for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to complete its analysis and certification of the product.
According to him, the research institute created in 1954, about three months ago produced a herbal-based hand sanitizer, which is also awaiting NAFDAC certification, adding that when NAFDAC is through with its analysis, FRIN would officially state the position of the products.
The Director-General of FRIN stressed the importance of herbs in the on-going fight against Covid-19, saying “many people have been feeding on herbs and herbal mixture either recommended or self-prescribed and they are seeing how effective that they are”.
His words: “If you go to shelves in Europe and America, you will still find African chewing sticks (what we abandoned for brushes and toothpastes). Now, the people who sent us brushes and toothpastes are now using what we abandoned.
“They sold their own product to us and took away what we were born to know. If you go to America, you will find capsulated Moringa, which they take as supplements and as antibiotic. This is natural. Most of us are aware that if we take herbs in proper proportion, we have nothing to regret about it”.
Professor Adepoju said FRIN has achieved a lot since he came on board in 2015.
“We have achieved a lot. One, this institute had no legal document in terms of an Act when I came on board. We were able to secure that on August 17, 2018, and that Act being what it is, has been able to propel us to do a lot of things.
“For instance, we have been able to develop 10 different products in this place. The latest of all of them is the ongoing COVID-19 mixture. It has been tested and has proved capable of treating all symptoms that have to do with COVID-19. And as I speak with you, we are relating with the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), and are waiting for the agency to complete its analysis and certification so that we know the next step to take.
“But before then, we came up with a herbal-based hand sanitizer sometime in March, this year, which we are yet to give a name until NAFDAC certifies everything that it needs to. So, when NAFDAC is through with its analysis, we would officially state our position and say this is what it is”.
