FG Says Traditional Medicines Must Meet Research and Safety Standards Before Public Use
The Federal Government says traditional medicine can play a stronger role in Nigeria’s healthcare system and economy, but only where products and practices are backed by research, regulation, quality control and safety standards. Speaking in Abuja during the 2026 African Traditional Medicine Day, Health Minister of State Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako said long-standing cultural use is not, by itself, proof that a remedy is safe or effective. He said the sector needs scientific evidence, ethical practice, documentation and continuous evaluation. The government plans to strengthen research, regulation, quality assurance, indigenous knowledge protection, local production and the integration of proven remedies into conventional healthcare. Officials also warned that traditional remedies must not delay antenatal care, skilled childbirth, emergency treatment or referrals. The World Health Organization said it has trained 40 traditional medicine practitioners on harvesting and preparing standardised medicines, while calling for faster documentation and fair benefit-sharing with communities that preserve indigenous knowledge.
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