Health
NNMDA says funding challenges, infrastructure gaps slowing herbal medicine research, integration into healthcare
The Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA) has identified inadequate funding, weak research infrastructure and equipment shortages as major obstacles to developing and integrating herbal medicine into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Director-General of the agency, Martins Emeje, disclosed this on Tuesday during a one-day working visit by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Kingsley Udeh, to the agency’s headquarters in Lagos.
Mr Emeje said the challenges have slowed efforts to validate traditional medicines scientifically and develop locally produced herbal products that can be safely incorporated into healthcare.
The NNMDA is Nigeria’s only trans-cultural medical research agency responsible for researching, developing and promoting natural medicines derived from the country’s biodiversity.
Funding and infrastructure challenges
According to Mr Emeje, the agency lacks adequate funding to acquire critical research equipment and expand its scientific infrastructure.
He also identified low public awareness of the agency’s activities, inadequate staffing and limited opportunities for capacity development as constraints affecting its operations.
The agency said it also needs to expand its research and development facilities, including experimental medicinal plant farms across the country’s six geopolitical zones, while strengthening pre-clinical and clinical studies needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of herbal medicines.
Mr Emeje further raised concerns over what he described as unclear guidelines for the clinical evaluation of herbal medicines and their integration into Nigeria’s healthcare system.
He added that traditional medicine knowledge continues to suffer from poor public perception despite Nigeria’s rich biodiversity and abundance of medicinal plants.
Call for clinical laboratory
The agency’s director-general said one of its most urgent needs is a clinical observation laboratory to support scientific evaluation of herbal medicines.
He also requested the construction of chalets to accommodate researchers who often work beyond normal office hours.
Responding, Mr Udeh acknowledged the agency’s request and said the ministry would explore alternative financing options instead of relying solely on government budget allocations.
“The clinical observatory lab, which has been one of the major needs of the agency that’s been brought to my attention, is something that even the DG has mentioned, and we are not talking about taking the responsibility to have it done by tomorrow,” Mr Udeh said.
“We are sitting down today to innovatively identify ways of accessing funds to have it done. It mustn’t be budgeted funds. From what we are doing here, stakeholders can support in doing it. Stakeholders from the private sector can support it. We can also access some grants and other funds that we can use to make this a reality.”
The minister added that some ‘stakeholders’ had already expressed willingness to support the agency’s work.
Nigeria-India collaboration
During the visit, India’s Consul in Lagos, Kannan Chockalingam, called for stronger collaboration between Nigeria and India in traditional medicine.
He said the partnership could focus on biodiversity conservation, quality assurance, scientific validation and innovation in herbal medicine.
According to him, innovation in traditional medicine involves applying modern scientific methods to validate and standardise existing indigenous knowledge, creating opportunities for research, product development and integration into national healthcare systems.
READ ALSO: Digital tools alone cannot fix Nigeria’s health system — Experts
Seven herbal products unveiled
The minister also unveiled seven locally developed herbal products designed for the management of conditions including cancer, hepatitis, peptic ulcers, high cholesterol, hypertension and male sexual health.
He commended Mr Emeje for his leadership and pledged to engage industry stakeholders to accelerate the commercialisation of the agency’s herbal products.
“We will engage industry leaders on how to get these products into the market,” Mr Udeh said.
Health policymakers, legislators, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders are expected to meet in Abuja in October to discuss how Nigeria can bridge the gap between health policies and their implementation.
The stakeholders will meet at the 2026 National Health Equity Conference scheduled for 13 to 15 October at the Nigeria National Merit Award House, Maitama, Abuja.
The conference, organised by OneBarrow International Limited, will focus on the theme, “From Policy to Impact: Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity.”
According to the organisers, the meeting will examine how stronger coordination across different levels of the healthcare system can improve access to care, quality of services and continuity of treatment.
The conference is expected to bring together policymakers, legislators, healthcare regulators, development partners, professional bodies, healthcare practitioners, civil society organisations, patient and community groups, academics and private sector representatives.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, is listed as the Chief Host, while the Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Amos Magaji, and the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, are expected to attend as Special Guests of Honour.
Policy implementation
The Chief Executive Officer of OneBarrow International Limited, Yemi Ajao, said the conference would focus on how existing health policies and frameworks could be translated into action.
“Nigeria has developed important health policies and frameworks, but the real test is what happens when those policies reach the people and communities they are designed to serve,” Mr Ajao said.
He said the conference would examine implementation across the federal, state and local government levels, as well as collaboration among healthcare professionals.
According to him, better coordination among doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, health administrators and other professionals could help reduce fragmentation in healthcare delivery.
“Every healthcare cadre has a unique and complementary role to play. The patient experiences the health system as one system, regardless of how many professionals or institutions are involved in their care,” he said.
He added that stronger referral systems, communication and accountability would be important to improving coordination within the health system.
Health equity
The organisers said health equity would be another major focus of the conference, particularly the effect of poor coordination on people who face barriers to accessing healthcare.
The meeting will also consider the role of technology, data and citizen participation in improving accountability in healthcare.
Issues expected to be discussed include digital feedback mechanisms, transparency, access to health information and awareness of patients’ rights.
Mr Ajao said citizens should have channels through which they can provide feedback on healthcare services and participate in discussions about the quality of care.
READ ALSO: PT Health Watch: Common cancer risk factors that should not be ignored
“Citizens must understand their rights, have meaningful channels to provide feedback and be empowered to participate in conversations about the quality of care they receive,” he said.
Expected outcome
The organisers said the conference would produce a post conference communiqué and an implementation roadmap containing recommendations and commitments from participants.
They said the roadmap would be used to support policy implementation, track commitments and strengthen collaboration among stakeholders.
The organisers said the meeting would seek to move discussions beyond identifying problems to developing practical actions that can be implemented across Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Passengers using TinCity Metro buses in Plateau State will be required to wear face masks from Tuesday as authorities intensify efforts to contain a diphtheria outbreak that has killed at least 23 people.
The management of Plateau Express Services Group, which operates the state-owned mass transit service, announced a “no face mask, no entry” policy in a statement issued on Monday.
The directive takes effect on Tuesday, 8 September, and will remain in force until further notice.
“The Management of Plateau Express Services Group has directed the enforcement of a ‘No Face Mask, No Entry’ policy on all TinCity Metro buses, effective Tuesday, 8th September 2026, until further notice,” the statement said.
TinCity Metro buses operate across the Jos metropolis and neighbouring local government areas, including Jos South, Barkin Ladi and Bassa, providing daily transportation for residents within and around the state capital.
The management said a limited number of face masks would be provided at designated boarding points to ease the implementation of the directive.
However, it advised commuters to bring their own masks, warning that available supplies might not be sufficient for everyone.
The company also urged passengers to comply with the directive and cooperate with its personnel when boarding the buses.
“Management appreciates the understanding and cooperation of commuters as we work together to ensure a safer public transport environment,” it said.
The directive comes amid heightened concern over the spread of diphtheria in Plateau State, with health authorities reporting a rising number of suspected cases and deaths.
The state Commissioner for Health, Nicholas Baamlong, said on Friday that 148 suspected cases had been recorded, with 23 deaths reported in the preceding two weeks.
READ ALSO: Plateau shuts schools over suspected diphtheria outbreak
Eight patients were receiving treatment at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, while five others were being treated at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Mr Baamlong said.
Diphtheria is a bacterial infection that spreads mainly through respiratory droplets and close contact with infected people, making crowded public spaces a potential avenue for transmission.
The Plateau State Government has already introduced other measures to contain the outbreak, including the temporary closure of public and private primary and secondary schools across the state.
The face-mask requirement on TinCity Metro buses extends the containment measures to public transportation, where thousands of residents travel daily between Jos and neighbouring communities.
Discover more from Premium Times Nigeria
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
-
News4 days agoChina Approves New Brain-Tech Devices in Growing Race With Elon Musk’s Neuralink
-
News4 days ago
Peter Obi dropped money in Ekiti – Lere Olayinka dismisses ‘I don’t give shishi’ claims
-
Health4 days ago
Jos University Teaching Hospital’s psychiatric facility stretched as mental health cases rise
-
Business4 days ago
Uber’s exit from Nigeria has nothing to do with FAAN – Official
