The Nigerian Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building an evidence base for traditional medicine, unveiling two key documents to guide its integration into Nigeria’s health system.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the commemoration of African Traditional Medicine Day 2025, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, said the initiative aligns with the administration’s push for research-driven traditional medicine and a larger role for the sector in healthcare delivery.
“This year’s theme, “Strengthen the Evidence Base for Traditional Medicine”, is timely as Africa pursues homegrown, context-specific solutions amid dwindling overseas development assistance.
“Evidence is the bridge between belief and policy. It is what will move traditional medicine from the periphery to the mainstream of healthcare, in Nigeria and across the continent”, Salako said.
He noted that millions of Nigerians, especially in rural communities, rely on traditional medicine as their primary care option, making the sector vital for expanding access, creating jobs, and supporting local manufacturing. The minister called for clinical studies and rigorous scientific research to validate the safety, efficacy, and quality of traditional remedies.
Salako outlined recent government actions to strengthen the ecosystem, including:
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Establishment of the Department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine;
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Development of the Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia;
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Documentation of over 200 medicinal plants in the Nigerian Essential Medicinal Plants List;
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Collaboration with the Standards Organisation of Nigeria and other regulators to set quality standards for medicinal plants;
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A ministerial committee on phytomedicine development and commercialisation.
According to the minister, these measures are designed to create a credible, regulated, and research-anchored traditional medicine sector that contributes meaningfully to national health outcomes and the wider economy.
The new Strategic Plan of Action for implementing the Traditional Medicine Policy and a Code of Ethics and Practice for Traditional Medicine Practitioners are intended to professionalise and regulate the sub-sector, improve effectiveness, and position it for global recognition and competitiveness.
