The Republic of Madagascar has demanded the sum of 170,000 Euros (N78 million naira) for the quantity of the alleged COVID-19 cure drugs they sent to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

The drugs allocated to Nigeria by the Island country arrived on Saturday.

It was delivered by Guinea Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, who visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja.

President Buhari had earlier revealed that the drugs would be subjected to intense tests to determine its potency.

Whatever the outcome of that test is, Nigeria might end up paying the full N78 million, nevertheless.

“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 realise that the drugs are not being given out free,” The Nation quoted a presidential source as saying.

“We are being asked to pay for the drugs yet to be validated. Since the AU directed the supply of the drugs to African countries, we may have no choice than to pay for it.

“This payment may, however, be one-off because mass importation of the drugs from Madagascar will not be cost effective. By the time we take into account the cost of freight, the amount will be too high.

“This is why we are looking at local options available to us as a nation.”