The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says it is working with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to advance the development of scientifically validated herbal medicines that meet international safety and efficacy standards.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, said in a statement on Sunday that Nigerian practitioners already have the expertise to formulate potent indigenous remedies, but stressed that rigorous clinical trials are needed to prove safety and effectiveness.

She explained that NAFDAC offers two approval pathways for herbal products: a temporary “Listing” approval, granted after safety testing, valid for two years; and full approval, valid for five years, which requires evidence from clinical trials conducted under well-designed protocols.

Adeyeye acknowledged that the high cost of clinical trials remains a major obstacle for herbal practitioners, but said NAFDAC is seeking funding support to ease the process. “The fact that a product is natural doesn’t mean it’s completely safe—that’s where regulation comes in,” she noted.

The partnership with NNMDA will identify promising herbal medicines for clinical validation, with the ultimate goal of integrating proven remedies into Nigeria’s national formulary.

According to the World Health Organisation, up to 80 per cent of Africa’s population relies on herbal remedies for primary healthcare. Adeyeye said proper validation would ensure that Nigeria’s traditional medicines are both safe for patients and competitive globally.