Madagascar’s invoice

The island nation of Madagascar recently shared its touted remedy for Covid-19, named Covid-Organics, with Nigeria. But if you thought it was a gesture of African brotherly benefaction, perish the thought. There is an asking price of €170,000 (N78, 200,000) attached.

Nigeria’s allocation of the drug was brought in tow penultimate weekend by Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who came calling on President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja. Although the exact quantity of the consignment is not known, it apparently wasn’t beyond the oversight of his visiting excellency. Good enough, Nigeria did not rush into dispensing the drug. President Buhari made clear the Madagascar remedy wasn’t like a magic wand Nigeria was waiting for in its battle against coronavirus. He said the solution would be run through local verification and validation processes before being dispensed to Covid-19 patients.

Now we know ‘there is no free lunch even in Freetown,’ as they say. A source told The Nation last weekend: “For our consignments in Guinea Bissau, Madagascar has asked Nigeria to pay over €170,000 (N78, 200,000). We have received the invoice because the African country has made us to realise that the drugs are not being given out free. We are being asked to pay for the drugs yet to be validated. Since the AU (African Union) directed the supply of the drugs to African countries, we may have no choice than to pay for it.”