Covid 19: Nigerians shun Chinese products

By Fatimah Muraina
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The parmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) has said that Nigerians have began to run away from products manufactured by China for fear of Coronavirus.

Ondo State Chairman of the organisation, Mr Abiodun Ayekun made this known in a telephone interview with The Hope in Akure.

He described the situation as a major factor for the scarcity of nose mask which he said was majorly produced from China and supplied to most of the countries in the world.

“Nose mask are also manufactured in Nigeria but they are mainly imported because it is cheaper to import than manufactured,” he said.

Speaking on scarcity of hand sanitizer, he said “Most companies had ran out of the products due to high demand”.

Ayekun, who affirmed an increase in the production of hand sanitizers soonest, said it does not mean that the price will fall but that the demand would be determined by the price.

Also speaking on the development, a pharmacist, and former commissioner in the state, Mr Kunle Ashaolu decried that most of the companies were not producing and the demand globally has increased bringing about the scarcity of nose mask.

Ashaolu explained that the demand for hand sanitizer was high from all quarters because it is a preventive and precautional measure that kills germs.

He advised on the need to place precautional measures at borders of the state and countries rather than people wearing face masks which according to him is like playing to the gallery.

Coronavirus, he opined is not endemic in Nigeria. Also the Manager of a pharmaceutical shop in Akure, Mr. Ajayi Oluwadare said people’s demand for hand sanitizers now cost higher.

He said the foreign sanitizers which  formerly cost for N500 is now sold for N1,000 and above while a 200 mills of the local one is sold for N700

He urged  government to intensify effort on nose mask production as well as improving on the quality of hand sanitizers being produced in the country.

The Manager of another pharmaceutical shop also in Akure, Mr.  noted that the price of a box of nose park containing 50 peices used to sell for N500 is now sold between N6,000 to N8,000.