ABUJA — The Senate on Tuesday witnessed a lively debate over the future of traditional medicine in Nigeria as Senator Garba Maidoki (APC, Kebbi South) urged lawmakers to include indigenous healthcare practices in a proposed law aimed at reforming the country’s food and drug regulatory system.
Maidoki made the call during deliberations on a bill seeking to repeal the Food, Drug and Related Products (Registration, Etc.) Act and the Food and Drug Act and replace them with a comprehensive legal framework for regulating food, medicines, vaccines, medical devices and other products that impact public health.
The bill, sponsored by Senator Sadiq Umar (APC, Kwara North), scaled second reading after receiving the support of lawmakers.
Contributing to the debate, Maidoki described the legislation as timely and necessary but argued that it would be incomplete if it failed to recognise traditional medicine, which he said remains the primary source of healthcare for many Nigerians, particularly those in rural communities.
According to him, indigenous medicine continues to serve millions of people who depend on herbal remedies and traditional healers for treatment.
