The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Tunji Alausa, has called on traditional medicine practitioners to ensure that their practices protect the health of Nigerians and align with modern standards of quality, and safety.
  
Speaking at the 2024 African Traditional Medicine Day in Abuja, Alausa advocated for enhanced safety in the practice of herbal medicine in the country. The minister, who launched the second edition of the Traditional Medicine Policy and the first-ever Nigerian Essential Medicinal Plants List, said the initiatives were designed to provide a regulatory framework that will ensure the safety and efficacy of traditional medicine products.
  
He emphasised the significance of traditional medicine in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where it serves as a primary form of healthcare for 80 per cent of the population.
   
Alausa also acknowledged the efforts of regulatory bodies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in monitoring and enforcing safety standards in the traditional medicine sector.
   
He called on practitioners to collaborate with these agencies to improve their manufacturing practices, which will enhance the quality and acceptability of their products. “In the past year, NAFDAC has listed over 2,000 Traditional Medicinal (TM) products, attesting to their safety and efficacy.
    
“This is a significant achievement, but we must continue to build on this progress to ensure that traditional medicine remains a safe and trusted component of our healthcare system,” Alausa said.
 
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the traditional medicine sector through increased regulation, research, and development. He urged all stakeholders to work together to create a healthcare system that honours Nigeria’s rich heritage in traditional medicine while embracing the principles of quality, safety, and efficacy.