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Torkwase Nyiekaa
The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to amend the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Act to give the agency full powers to regulate the production, sale, and use of herbal medicines in Nigeria.
Presenting the general principles of the bill during Thursday’s plenary, Hon. Jesse Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, who represents Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency of Lagos State, described herbal medicine as an integral part of Nigeria’s health system and a trusted source of care for millions of citizens.
Onuakalusi, however, expressed concern that many herbal products currently in circulation are manufactured in unhygienic environments, without proper dosage guidelines, clinical trials, or safety certification, putting consumers at risk of poisoning, infections, and organ failure.
“The existing NAFDAC Act does not clearly empower the Agency to regulate herbal medicine. This amendment is intended to close that gap by granting NAFDAC clear authority to register, certify, and monitor all herbal products to ensure they meet acceptable standards of safety, efficacy, and quality,” he explained.
The proposed amendment seeks to expand the agency’s responsibilities to include oversight of herbal and traditional medicinal products. It also provides for the establishment of a Traditional Medicine Advisory Committee, which would support NAFDAC in the standardisation, documentation, and promotion of indigenous medical knowledge.
Additionally, the bill proposes the creation of a Department of Herbal Medicine Regulation within NAFDAC, and prescribes penalties for individuals or companies involved in the production or sale of unregistered or unsafe herbal medicines.
A 12-month grace period is also included in the proposal to enable traditional practitioners and producers to register and align their operations with the new regulatory framework.
According to Onuakalusi, the amendment will enhance public health protection, encourage scientific validation of traditional remedies, and position Nigeria to benefit economically from the fast-growing global herbal medicine market.
“This legislation will integrate the contributions of traditional healers into a structured and supervised system, ensuring public safety while fostering innovation, research, and local enterprise,” he added.
The bill enjoyed unanimous support from lawmakers and was referred to the relevant House committee for further legislative consideration.
Nigeria’s herbal medicine industry, rooted in centuries-old traditions, remains a significant yet largely unregulated segment of the country’s healthcare system. For millions of Nigerians, particularly those in rural and low-income communities, herbal remedies are often the first and only option for treating ailments such as malaria, infertility, diabetes, and hypertension.
However, the sector is dominated by traditional healers, street vendors, and small producers who operate informally, with minimal oversight. Although NAFDAC and other regulatory agencies are mandated to supervise herbal products, enforcement remains weak due to the industry’s fragmented nature and deep cultural entrenchment.
This lack of effective regulation has raised growing concerns about product safety and efficacy, as cases of adulteration, contamination, and unverified health claims continue to surface.
Despite these challenges, Nigeria’s herbal medicine market continues to thrive, driven by affordability, accessibility, cultural familiarity, and declining confidence in conventional medicine.
Health experts and policymakers alike emphasise that comprehensive reform, through stronger regulation, investment in research, and capacity building for traditional practitioners, is vital to unlock the sector’s full potential while protecting public health.
