LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- In a landmark push to elevate Nigeria’s traditional medicine sector, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), is partnering with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to transform herbal remedies into scientifically validated treatments that meet international health and safety standards.
This bold initiative targets a growing reliance on herbal medicine in Africa, where up to 80 percent of the population uses natural remedies as primary healthcare, according to the World Health Organization.
Therefore, NAFDAC announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency aimed at validating local herbal medicines through properly designed clinical trials. The goal is to ensure these remedies are not only effective but also safe and compliant with global regulatory benchmarks.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasized that while Nigerian herbal practitioners have the expertise to produce effective natural treatments, scientific validation remains crucial.
“We know herbal medicine works, but we must determine scientifically the safe dosage levels. Natural doesn’t always mean safe,” she stated.
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Currently, NAFDAC offers two approval pathways for herbal medicines. The first is a “listing” (L) approval, granted after satisfactory toxicological safety testing in the lab. These products bear a NAFDAC number ending in ‘L’ and are valid for two years.
The second, a more comprehensive approval requires evidence of efficacy from clinical trials. Products that pass these trials receive full registration, valid for five years.
However, Adeyeye acknowledged that the high cost of clinical trials poses a significant barrier. Many herbal medicine producers stop at the listing stage due to lack of funding.
“If you have a herbal medicine but cannot scientifically prove its efficacy and safety, NAFDAC cannot grant it full registration,” she explained.
While thousands of herbal products have been listed over the years, only a small number have undergone rigorous trials. Adeyeye warned that improper dosages can lead to serious harm, including damage to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys, reinforcing the importance of regulation.
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To accelerate progress, NAFDAC created the Herbal Medicine Products Committee just before the COVID-19 pandemic. This body unites researchers, practitioners, and government agencies to coordinate efforts in traditional medicine research and regulation.
Now, with its alliance with NNMDA, NAFDAC is moving to identify selected herbal products that have already met preliminary safety standards and advance them into clinical trials. The agency is also actively seeking financial support to ease the cost burden on herbal producers.
Stakeholder engagement has become a core strategy, with NAFDAC conducting regular meetings to educate practitioners on registration requirements and best practices for safety and efficacy. According to Adeyeye, these collaborations are essential for building a robust national framework that can support the inclusion of herbal medicines in Nigeria’s official formulary.
By prioritizing science-backed validation of herbal medicine, NAFDAC is safeguarding public health and also positioning Nigeria as a leader in regulated traditional medicine.
