Business

NAFDAC And Dignity For Herbal Products

Published

12 years ago

June 25, 2014

Notaby, just as the glo
bally detested fake, substandard and counterfeited pharmaceutical products are very harmful and highly destructive to human health, so also are traditional /herbal products of similar status. Indeed, the Nigeria alternative medicine market is in dire need of modern sophistications, dynamic development and critical overhaul for global competitive practice in the sector.
Historically, the use of medicinal herbal products in the curing and prevention of numerous diseases and ailments is ancient in practice. However, the emergence of western civilisation brought in its wake, orthodox or modern medical practice.
Despite the various enormous technological and scientific sophistications that have characterized this mode of medication, it could be simply considered as an improvement on the aged traditional and ancient approach to medicine practice.
Such is its dependability and effectiveness in both curative and preventive medicine practice that the usage of herbs for medication purpose is maximally acknowledged and embraced globally particularly in Britain, United States of America, Germany, India, China etc.
It is in this regard that Nigeria, a highly revered Giant in the Africa continent has expressed outright unwillingness to be shoved aside as the world progressively tilts towards blending modern with traditional /herbal cum alternative medicine in an attempt to proffer varieties of suitable medications for the avalanche of deadly diseases which abounds in all the nooks and crannies of the world.
Apparently, this explains the current posture of Government in this regard through the Dr Paul B.Orhii led National Agency for Food, Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) .
Undoubtedly, Indeginous herbal preparations or mixtures emanates from the blending of plants medicinal properties such as flowers, bark, leaves ,roots, berries, seeds, fruits etc .
The end products which could be in form of dry extracts {ie capsules or pills},tinctures ,liquid extracts, oil, syrups, teas etc are used for the treatment of various ailments and diseases.
They are equally termed as alternative ,complimentary or supplementary in medicine practice and therefore not alien.
In Nigeria, for instance, the ancient/traditional and seeming hereditary nature of its practice over the years seems to have encouraged its massive infiltration by quacks, illiterates and saboteurs who are merely masquerading as herbal experts.
More embarrassing is the unsubstantiated and non-verified effectiveness , efficacy and potency claims ascribed to herbal products by marketers such that users are misled to believe that a single product can cure a retinue of diseases including AIDS,HIV while at the same time boost sexual libido etc
Some herbal practitioners and marketers have resorted to unauthorised, desperate and highly insincere means of advertisement in a deliberately calculated attempt to fraudulently garner mass patronage from unsuspecting buyers including using NAFDAC numbers as a guarantee for their claimed herbal products efficacy and reliability.
These obnoxious practices has in turn made herbal medicine practice an all comer affair with an attendant negative consequence on the innocent consumers.
As a legally authorised healthcare regulator, the onus of sieving the grains from the shafts rest on NAFDAC which is determined to bring to bear on the sector outright sanity through thorough examination and standardization of the various processes, preparations and products culminating into effective and efficient herbal medicine practice.
It is in this regard that the agency has evolved modernised scientific techniques to adequately regulate and promote herbal products manufacturing and marketing with a view to according it due relevance through proper repositioning for outright acceptability both locally and internationally.
NAFDAC is indeed determined to ensure that herbal medical products being put across to the public for use or consumption as a reliable means of medication are non poisonous{non-toxic},safe, non –complicative ,efficacious and are in accordance with globally acceptable /specified good manufacturing practice standards.
It is in an attempt to maximally guarantee safety for the human life ,that NAFDAC has urged all herbal medicine practitioners nationwide to henceforth forward mandatorily to it ,herbal preparations and products for a proper cum professionalised scientific and medical examination before being accorded a partial approval status known as NAFDAC Listing status which is not a guarantee on herbal products curative and preventive capacity or effectiveness efficacy which constitutes the first approval stage.
In the same vein permission/authorisation is to be compulsorily obtained from the agency by practitioners for their herbal products before being advertised for public acceptance and patronage in the mass media-Radio,T elevision, Newspapers, Magazines,Bill boards,Electronic boards, etc.This is believed will entrench sanity in herbal products advertisement.
Similarly ,the agency is putting in place a dynamic second and final herbal products approval phase which comprise scientific based herbal products efficacy/effectiveness verification mechanism which will involve series of clinical trials.
To this end, a high powered committee comprising seasoned intellectuals and scientific egg heads duly sourced from both the academia universities and research agencies eg NIBRID has been constituted .
These medical and scientific Think-Tanks are to among other things, thoroughly examine, assess and consider herbal composition , preparations and products to ascertain efficacy status or where necessary ,recommend appropriate rectification measures.
They are also to unfold the nature of government support or assistance required to upgrade herbal medicine practice through herbal products development and standardisation to compete with international quality efficacy and safety output standards.
Furthermore, the agency has resolved not to rest on its oars as it has restrenthened its public enlightenment approaches and measures aimed at ensuring that herbal medicals are effectively and efficiently regulated thereby ensuring that they are safe for use.
Interestingly, the agency has remained consistent in the hosting and co-ordination of enlightenment and interactive workshops for herbal practitioners and other stakeholders in the sector in an attempt to adequately equip and update them with modern requirements/international best practices as well as standards and knowledge in the development and upliftment of the sector.
Obviously, the social, political and economic benefits accruable to a nation from the production and marketing of herbal products are indeed enormous.
Apart from boosting foreign exchange earnings, creating employment opportunities, dignifying our nation and herbal products,it will further empower government to provide social amenities,avail the citizenry a reliable alternative source of health care while helping to ensure that our pride as a progressively focused nation is maximally sustained through the production of standardised life saving herbal medical commodities to mention but a few of its advantages.
Ideally, herbal products ability and competence must be thoroughly substantiated through necessary laboratory analysis and other relevant medical experimentations for curative and preventive assurance before favourable public pronouncement can be made on such products capacity .
It is only by so doing that herbal medicine can be maximally and relevantly integrated into the Nation’s healthcare delivery system to provide the required complementary, supplementary or alternative role.
In all, the various numerous and scintillating advantages ascribable to embracing of herbal products could become outrightly elusive if adequate urgent measures are not adopted to regulate, control and standardise its production and administration such that only very competent persons who are knowledgeable in herbal medicine composition, preparation and use are allowed access to its practice which invariably, is the position of NAFDAC as it relates to herbal medicine practice.

Martins Ikhilae

Business

Association Seeks Intervention to Save Domestic Airlines

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Vice Chairman of the Airline Operators of Nigeria (AON) and Chairman of Air Peace, Mr. Allen Onyema, has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the nation’s aviation industry, warning that several domestic airlines may cease operations if the current challenges confronting the sector are not addressed.

Onyema gave the warning at the public presentation of the book, Pathways, Pilgrimage and Destiny: The Biography of Alhaji Muneer Bankole, held in Lagos and was obtained in Port Harcourt, at the weekend.

He described the aviation industry as being highly capital-intensive with relatively low financial returns, stressing that domestic airline operators are grappling with severe economic pressures that threaten their continued existence.

According to him, the industry has reached a critical stage and requires immediate government intervention to avert the collapse of many indigenous carriers.

Onyema warned that unless decisive measures are taken within the next 30 days, several Nigerian airlines could be forced to shut down their operations due to the harsh operating environment.

He also cautioned aviation labour unions against any planned picketing of airlines over the alleged non-remittance of the five per cent Ticket Sales Charge, saying such action could disrupt flight operations across the country.

The Air Peace Chairman maintained that if any airline was singled out for industrial action, other domestic operators would stand in solidarity, arguing that labour unions should not be used as instruments for resolving debt-related disputes between airlines and government agencies.

He lamented that more than 50 Nigerian airlines had folded over the years despite the success of many of their promoters in other sectors of the economy, attributing the trend to the difficult business environment in the aviation industry.

While reaffirming the commitment of airline operators to support government revenue generation, Onyema stressed that policies capable of crippling airline operations should be reviewed in the interest of the sector.

He noted that a thriving aviation industry remains critical to national economic growth, employment generation and improved connectivity across the country.

The AON Vice Chairman urged the Federal Government to engage relevant stakeholders and adopt sustainable measures that would strengthen the operational capacity and financial stability of indigenous airlines.

He expressed optimism that with timely policy support and constructive engagement between government and industry stakeholders, the nation’s aviation sector would overcome its current challenges and continue to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s socio-economic development.

King Onunwor

Business

CBN Reforms Impact Consumers As Dollar Card Spending Limits Rise

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

The Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) foreign exchange reforms are beginning to deliver tangible benefits to consumers, as banks expand international spending limits on naira cards amid improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market.

The new limit represents a sharp increase from the $6,000 quarterly cap introduced in November 2025 and is 20-times higher than the $1,000 quarterly limit announced in July 2025.

The move comes as analysts point to a more liquid foreign exchange market following reforms introduced by the CBN over the past three years.

“This reflects the improved liquidity in the foreign exchange market. It also shows the focus of banks in maximising income from card payments,” said Ayokunle Olubunmi, head of Financial Institutions Ratings at Agusto & Co.

Muda Yusuf, chief executive officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), said the increase in card spending limits reflects the significant improvement in liquidity and confidence in Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.

“It’s an indication that the liquidity in the foreign exchange market has improved significantly and we can see that from the stability of the exchange rate. We can also see that reflected in our foreign reserves. All of these things reflect the level of confidence,” Yusuf said.

According to him, businesses and individuals are no longer under pressure to obtain foreign exchange for legitimate transactions, unlike in the past when access to dollars was constrained.

“It also means that citizens and those who use foreign exchange are no longer desperate about foreign exchange usage. Whether you want to use it through your card or access it for international trade, there is no anxiety, there is no pressure and there is no desperation.

All of these things have arisen because the level of confidence in the foreign exchange market and the outlook for the market have been very reassuring,” he said.

Yusuf added that the adjustment of international spending limits by banks demonstrates growing confidence in the sustainability of the foreign exchange market reforms.

“That is why we are seeing all these positive developments around the use of the naira card abroad and the limits that are now being adjusted by banks. It is a very good development and I hope we can sustain it. I am confident we will.”

The increase follows a series of policy changes by the apex bank aimed at deepening the foreign exchange market and improving access to foreign currency for legitimate transactions.

Under the CBN’s Foreign Exchange Manual, Fourth Edition, the maximum tuition fee remittance for Nigerian students pursuing undergraduate and postgraduate studies abroad was raised to $25,000 per semester, from the previous $15,000.

“Payment of tuition fees for undergraduate/postgraduate studies shall be subject to a maximum limit of $25,000.00 per semester,” the Manual states.

The expansion of international card limits also reflects growing confidence among lenders that foreign exchange liquidity has improved enough to support retail dollar transactions.

Speaking recently at the BusinessDay 14th Annual CEO Forum in Lagos, CBN Olayemi Cardoso, governor of the CBN said buying and selling activities now increasingly determine outcomes in the foreign exchange market, unlike in the past when market participants relied heavily on routine Central Bank interventions.

According to Cardoso, Nigeria’s net foreign exchange reserves have risen from just over $3 billion at the start of the reform programme to more than $40 billion, while gross reserves have climbed to about $52 billion, providing stronger confidence for investors and enabling the Central Bank to reserve interventions for periods of market stress rather than day-to-day liquidity management.

The restoration and expansion of international naira card spending limits are increasingly being seen as one of the clearest signs that the benefits of the CBN’s foreign exchange reforms are beginning to reach households, students and businesses making legitimate cross-border payments.

Business

WEC: FG Inaugurates Governing Board … As Nigeria Rejoins Council

Published

2 days ago

August 10, 2026

The Tide

Nigeria has rejoined the World Energy Council (WEC) with the inauguration of a National Member Committee and Governing Board to strengthen the country’s participation in global energy policy and investment discussions.

The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday.

The Governing Board is chaired by the Chairman of Waltersmith Petroman Oil Ltd., Abdulrazaq Isa, while a former Chief Upstream Investment Officer of NNPC Ltd., Bala Wunti, will serve as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer.

Other members of the board are Prof. Wumi Iledare, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, Mrs Aisha Farida Katagum, Dr Ainojie Irune, Dr Emmanuel Okon, Dr Victor Ekpenyong and Dr Imamuddeen Talba.

The Secretary-General and Chief Executive Officer, WEC, Dr Angela Wilkinson, who disclosed this in a statement, last Thursday, said the board comprises of experts in energy policy, regulation, investment, operations, research, technology and enterprise development.

Welcoming Nigeria into the council, Wilkinson said the country’s membership would strengthen its contribution to global energy discourse.

Wilkinson noted that “Nigeria has a significant leadership role to play within the global energy community.

“Nigeria has a significant leadership role, and the Member Committee will help bring that expertise and voice onto the world stage at the Riyadh World Energy Congress in April 2027 and beyond.

“Nigeria’s participation comes at a pivotal time as the country seeks to expand energy access, strengthen energy security, accelerate gas development and mobilise the capital required for industrialisation and sustainable economic growth.

“WEC Nigeria will convene leaders from across the energy ecosystem, apply the WEC’s globally recognised Energy Trilemma framework to Nigeria’s unique context, and promote evidence-based dialogue, practical collaboration and informed policymaking.

“It will also ensure that Nigerian and broader African perspectives contribute meaningfully to global energy conversations,” she said.

Wilkinson expressed confidence that Nigeria would play a significant leadership role at the World Energy Congress scheduled for Riyadh in April 2027 and beyond.

The statement also quoted the Chairman of WEC Nigeria, Isa, as describing the country’s participation as an opportunity to deepen national and African leadership within the global energy community through practical solutions tailored to regional development priorities.

He said the platform would promote collaboration across sectors and attract sustainable investments into Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Chief Executive Officer of WEC Nigeria, Wunti, was quoted in the statement as saying that the council would connect leadership, evidence and investment to build a secure, affordable and sustainable energy system.

“This system will be capable of driving economic growth and shared prosperity.”

According to him, the platform will also connect Nigerian institutions and businesses with international knowledge, technology, partnerships and investment opportunities through the World Energy Council’s global network.

Recall that WEC, founded in 1923, is the world’s oldest independent and impartial community of energy leaders and practitioners, advancing informed, collaborative and practical action across the global energy system.

Nigeria has been a member of the council with the Nigerian National Committee originally approved and established on April 6, 1960 before its re-establishment and expansion this year.

The renewed membership would provide an independent, technology-neutral platform bringing together government, industry, academia, finance and civil society to address Nigeria’s energy security, energy equity and environmental sustainability.