Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigeria Natural Medicines Development Agency (NNMDA) has appealed to the House of Representatives to allocate funds for the implementation of its 36-month roadmap aimed at advancing natural medicine in the country.
Prof. Martins Emeje, Director-General of NNMDA, made the appeal during an interview in Abuja, following the House’s recent resolution encouraging Nigerians to prioritize natural medicines. Emeje praised the resolution as a landmark achievement for the natural medicine sector in the past two decades.
“What we want from them now is support to implement our roadmap as an agency,” Emeje said. “They need to put life into this resolution and make special budgetary provisions for its execution.”
The NNMDA’s plan includes establishing research farms to cultivate region-specific medicinal plants, rear specialized animals and insects, and develop mineral gardens tailored to local environments. Emeje emphasized that natural remedies are closely tied to their ecosystems.
“Diseases in every location are linked to the natural composition of that environment,” he explained. “The plants, animals, and minerals in a community hold the key to treating ailments found there. For instance, bitter leaves in one region may not have the same medicinal properties as those in another due to botanical differences.”
The agency envisions creating localized health hubs where natural medicines are produced to meet community-specific needs. Emeje expressed optimism about the lawmakers’ resolution, calling it a crucial step toward Nigeria’s self-reliance in natural healthcare.
“The House of Representatives has given us both the mandate and the motivation to intensify efforts in producing natural remedies for Nigeria’s unique health challenges,” he said. “Now, we urge the relevant committees to ensure this resolution translates into actionable funding and implementation.”
The NNMDA’s push aligns with growing global interest in alternative medicine, positioning Nigeria to harness its biodiversity for sustainable healthcare solutions.
