The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has said that chloroquine has not been certified as a cure for the deadly coronavirus.
The agency made that the statement in a tweet where it discredited the drug as a vaccine for the disease and revealed that scientists were still working hard to ascertain the safety of the drug for mass consumption
It also advised Nigerians to avoid self-medication as it could lead to death.
"The World Health Organization has NOT approved the use of chloroquine for COVID19 management. Scientists are working hard to confirm the safety of several drugs for this disease.
"Please DO NOT engage in self-medication. This will cause harm and can lead to death," it tweeted.
#FactsNotFear@WHO has NOT approved the use of chloroquine for #COVID19 management. Scientists are working hard to confirm the safety of several drugs for this disease.
— NCDC (@NCDCgov) March 20, 2020
Please DO NOT engage in self-medication. This will cause harm and can lead to death.#COVID19Nigeria pic.twitter.com/K6kljq0VtW
This coming after the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control approved the drug for clinical trials, not later after the US approved the anti-malarial drug, chloroquine for use as a treatment against the new coronavirus.