‘Native doctors ‘intercede’ with ancestors’, says Senator Maidoki, seeks recognition for traditional medicine

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.

If eventually enacted, the proposed legislation will consolidate Nigeria’s existing food and drug laws into a single regulatory framework governing food, medicines, vaccines, medical devices and other public health-related products, while lawmakers may still consider amendments as the bill progresses through subsequent legislative stages.” The senator argued that giving legal backing to traditional medicine would help reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported pharmaceuticals by encouraging the use of locally sourced medicinal herbs and indigenous healing practices.