As Nigerians grapple with soaring medicine costs and frequent stock-outs of essential prescription drugs, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise investment in traditional medicine as a sustainable pathway to medicine security.
The global health body says Nigeria can significantly reduce its dependence on imported medicines by deliberately investing in research and development (R&D) of natural medicines derived from the country’s abundant indigenous plants, rather than relying almost exclusively on synthetic drugs.
WHO also challenged Nigerian scientists and stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry to deepen investment in the clinical research and development of natural medicines, describing the approach as a practical and inclusive strategy for achieving universal health coverage (UHC).
The newly appointed Co-Chair of the WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group (STAG) on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine (TCIM), Professor Martins Emeje, made this call in an exclusive interview with Pharmanews. He decried Nigeria’s heavy dependence on imported medicines, currently estimated at about 60 per cent, warning that it exposes the country to currency volatility, supply disruptions, limited access to raw materials and the loss of employment opportunities.
According to WHO, traditional medicine plays a critical role in medicine security by providing accessible and affordable healthcare for millions of people, particularly in the management of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases. The organisation reiterated its commitment to integrating evidence-based traditional, complementary and integrative medicine into national health systems, with a strong focus on safety, quality, efficacy and equitable access.
“I call on both the government of Nigeria and the private sector to undertake deliberate investment in traditional medicine research. It is the best strategy for achieving universal health coverage, and no amount of drug importation will suffice. The private sector, including philanthropists, should relax on profit-making for show-off and imitate their counterparts in other climes who are donating or endowing huge funds for R&D,” Emeje said.
A health reference platform, Johns Hopkins Medicine, defines natural medicines as herbal, botanical or phytomedicinal products derived from plant sources and intended for internal use. Many prescription and over-the-counter medicines are also plant-based. These products come in various forms, including dried, chopped or powdered preparations, capsules and liquids, and may be consumed as pills, teas or extracts, applied to the skin as creams or gels, or added to bath water.
Emeje stressed that Nigerian scientists must take ownership of research into indigenous plants, noting that no expatriate will do it for them, especially at a time when WHO is intensifying global efforts to integrate traditional medicine into health systems. This momentum, he said, was reinforced at the just-concluded TCIM conference held in December 2025.
He identified key grey areas within the TCIM ecosystem that require urgent attention, including gaps in research funding, quality of evidence, regulatory consistency and the sustainable use of traditional knowledge, which currently vary widely across countries.
Research published in the Nigerian Journal of Pharmacy has validated the potential of natural medicine in addressing the healthcare needs of a significant proportion of Nigerians. However, the researchers emphasised the need to improve R&D of active ingredients to enhance safety, efficacy and standardisation. They noted ongoing efforts to translate herbal use into standardised medicines to improve availability, affordability and reliability.
While affirming that his appointment places Nigeria in a strategic position within the global health space, potentially attracting increased funding for indigenous R&D, Emeje cautioned against unrealistic expectations.
“So, while confirming to you that the global attention on traditional medicine will necessarily lead to increased funding for research, it will not be by donation or development partner aid. Researchers should stop complaining and go back to the bench or field,” he said.
He further justified the need for increased government investment in indigenous plants by referencing Nigeria’s obligations under the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025–2034. As a member country, Nigeria is expected to fulfil the first commitment made at the Second Global Summit held in December 2025, which states:
“Participants commit to implement the WHO Traditional Medicine Research Priorities Global Roadmap. Recognising that less than 1% of global health research funding goes to traditional medicine, participants commit to expanding investments in traditional medicine research infrastructure, workforce, and scientifically robust, pluralistic and ethical research methods which incorporate whole-systems research, real-world evidence, and indigenous and community-based methodologies. Generating evidence will focus on public health priorities and rights-based research governance to safeguard biodiversity, cultural resources, data sovereignty and community rights, and the responsible use of digital technologies, artificial intelligence and scientific advances.”
Closely related to this, Emeje cited the second commitment of participants at the Delhi Conference, popularly known as the Delhi Declaration, published by WHO:
“Participants commit to strengthen coherent governance and regulatory systems for traditional medicine products, practices and practitioners to ensure safety, quality, effectiveness, accountability, accessibility and public trust, while respecting system diversity and biodiversity. They will advance regulatory science, risk-based approaches, strengthened pharmacovigilance and regulatory cooperation, and promote fair and equitable benefit-sharing aligned with Indigenous rights and international agreements.”
On how his new role would support Nigeria’s aspirations, Emeje described his appointment as both recognition and responsibility.
“It signals that Africa is now invited to sit at the table where global standards and policies on traditional medicine are shaped. But to do this effectively, we must be ready to do the right things. A good leader must lead by example.
“So, Nigeria and Africa will no longer be sitting on the sidelines of decision-making. The world expects us to lead by example. It also means that, although traditional medicine can no longer be dismissed by a vocal minority of elites, we too must embrace scientific investigation, validation and regulation.”
He concluded by inviting Nigerian scientists to partner with the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency (NNMDA), in collaboration with NAFDAC, to conduct clinical trials on selected NAFDAC-listed herbal medicines. He said the outcome would strengthen the evidence base for traditional medicine, support equitable access to safe and effective products, enhance regulatory systems and ultimately facilitate the integration of validated traditional medicine into Nigeria’s health system.
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