In a bid to bridge traditional knowledge and modern science, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) have launched a joint initiative to test and validate indigenous herbal medicines through regulated clinical research.
In a statement issued on Sunday by NAFDAC’s media consultant, Sayo Akintola, the agency’s Director-General, Mojisola Adeyeye, said the partnership aims to ensure that locally produced herbal remedies meet international standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.
Adeyeye noted that Nigerian herbal practitioners possess the expertise to develop effective natural medicines but stressed the need for scientific validation. “The fact that a product is natural doesn’t make it entirely safe,” she said. “We must determine scientifically the correct dosage levels to avoid harm to vital organs such as the liver and kidneys.”
According to the World Health Organization, about 80 percent of Africans rely on herbal remedies for primary healthcare, underscoring the need for stronger regulation and research.
NAFDAC currently grants two levels of approval for herbal products, a listing approval (L) after laboratory safety tests, valid for two years, and a full registration following successful clinical trials proving efficacy, valid for five years.
Adeyeye admitted that the high cost of clinical trials remains a major barrier for practitioners but said the agency is seeking funding support to facilitate research. She added that while thousands of herbal products have been listed by NAFDAC, only a few have undergone full clinical evaluation.
Through the new partnership with the NNMDA, selected herbal medicines that meet regulatory benchmarks will now be subjected to comprehensive trials to establish their safety and effectiveness.
Prof. Adeyeye reaffirmed NAFDAC’s commitment to elevating Nigeria’s traditional medicine sector to global standards and said validated herbal medicines could soon be included in the National Formulary.
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