By Reportcircle – Abuja
The Federal Government has unveiled a new Strategic Plan of Action and a Code of Ethics for practitioners as part of efforts to standardize and expand the role of traditional medicine within Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the 2025 African Traditional Medicine Day, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the initiatives mark a decisive step in transforming traditional medicine into a “reliable and respected part” of the nation’s health architecture under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
“Evidence is the bridge between belief and policy,” Salako declared. “Our goal is to document, standardize, and integrate evidence-based traditional medicine into Nigeria’s national health system, creating opportunities for job creation, local manufacturing, and improved healthcare access.”
The Minister highlighted several key initiatives driving the government’s renewed focus on indigenous medicine:
Establishment of the Department of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) at the Federal Ministry of Health.
Development of Nigeria’s Traditional Medicine Policy and the Nigerian Herbal Pharmacopoeia, which catalogues more than 200 medicinal plants and their therapeutic uses.
Plans to revive the Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (FEDCAM), shut down in 2010, to strengthen practitioner training.
Directives to all 36 states and the FCT to create TCAM departments or boards, in line with resolutions of the 62nd National Council on Health.
Expanded partnerships with the World Health Organization (WHO), West African Health Organization (WAHO), and countries such as China and India for research and technical support.
The Strategic Plan and Code of Ethics, Salako explained, will serve as “roadmaps” for policymakers and practitioners to ensure standardization, safety, and quality assurance across the traditional medicine sector.
Nigeria joins other African nations in marking African Traditional Medicine Day, dedicated to promoting indigenous knowledge systems while ensuring patient safety and scientific validation.
