President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigerians to disregard conspiracy theories claiming that the COVID-19 pandemic was created by foreign countries to depopulate Africa or to make money for Western pharmaceutical companies.

President Buhari gave the warning in his ‘get well soon’ message to the South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa, who was recently diagnosed with the COVID-19 infection.

In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the President also warned that refusing to heed non-pharmaceutical instructions on staying safe from the virus is capable of setting government’s efforts at containing its spread back.

The President, therefore, advised Nigerians to come out fully and get vaccinated.

In the statement, he reminded Nigerians “to disregard the allegation that the pandemic is a foreign creation to depopulate Africa and boost the financial interests of western pharmaceutical companies through vaccine production”.

“Lack of attention to medical advice and apathy are damaging to the government’s efforts to contain the spread of this deadly viral disease,” he said.

In his message to President Ramaphosa, Buhari said: “My heart and prayers are with Mr. Ramaphosa of South Africa at this difficult moment of health challenge, and I pray for his speedy and full recovery.

“Mr. Ramaphosa is a friend of Nigeria and an important partner in our joint continental efforts to tackle Africa’s social, economic and political difficulties.“The coronavirus pandemic is a reality and no respecter of persons.” (The Nation)