The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has partnered with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) to conduct clinical trials aimed at scientifically proving the safety and effectiveness of Nigeria’s herbal medicines.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, announced the partnership in Lagos, describing it as a vital step toward giving global credibility to the country’s indigenous natural remedies. She explained that NAFDAC is determined to move beyond merely listing herbal products to granting full registration for those verified through scientific validation.
“We know herbal medicine works, but it’s important to confirm, through clinical trials, how safely it can be used,” Adeyeye said. “Below a certain dose, it may heal; above that, it could harm the liver, kidney, or other organs. The fact that something is natural doesn’t mean it is completely safe.”
She noted that the high cost of clinical trials remains a major challenge for many herbal practitioners, which often prevents them from validating their products scientifically. “If an herbal medicine cannot be scientifically proven, it cannot be fully registered by NAFDAC,” she emphasized.
Adeyeye explained that NAFDAC currently operates a two-tier approval system for herbal medicines. The first stage, called “listing,” is based on laboratory safety tests. Products approved at this level receive a temporary number ending with the letter “L,” valid for two years. The second stage requires full clinical trials to confirm safety and efficacy, leading to a five-year approval and inclusion in Nigeria’s national formulary.
“We’ve listed thousands of herbal medicines in Nigeria, but only a few have undergone clinical trials to prove their claims. Without that process, we cannot issue a five-year approval,” Adeyeye stated.
She recalled that before the COVID-19 pandemic, NAFDAC launched the Herbal Medicine Products Committee to unite traditional healers, researchers, and the Ministry of Health. “The practitioners understand traditional uses, while the researchers know the science. Working together bridges the gap between tradition and evidence-based medicine,” she explained.
Adeyeye said NAFDAC and NNMDA are now selecting promising herbal medicines already listed by the agency for scientific testing. “We’re working with NNMDA to conduct clinical trials on selected herbal medicines so we can generate reliable data. Once proven effective, they’ll be fully registered and added to the national formulary,” she said.
She added that NAFDAC continues to build the capacity of herbal manufacturers through training, stakeholder meetings, and facility inspections. “The production facility doesn’t need to be large, but it must be well-organized to prevent contamination and ensure proper workflow,” she advised.
Adeyeye reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting local herbal producers but stressed that no product would receive full registration without clear scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness.
“Our mission is to make Nigerian herbal medicines globally trusted, not just locally popular — and that trust can only come through science,” she concluded.
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