The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has presented four herbal products developed by the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency for the management of diabetes and sickle cell disease.

These also include others meant for the treatment of upper respiratory tract infections and reducing fast aging which are part of the core areas of focus of the agency.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, who unveiled the products during an official visit to NNMDA in Lagos, affirmed FG’s readiness to invest in natural medicine.

Nnaji said the herbal products would serve as substitutes for foreign drugs amid the rising cost of drugs in the country.

The minister noted: “I am happy to have verified so many products they have developed. They have those that treat arthritis, diabetes, and hypertension, including the four products that I launched this afternoon. This is part of the reason why I am here to launch the four products.

“The drugs are foreign substitutes. You have one for diabetes, you have the one for aging, you have the one for sickle cell, and then the one for upper respiratory tract infection that will replace Augmentin. We should be celebrating.’’

Nnaji disclosed that the Federal Government planned to create an innovation fund for research and development to support research institutions, stressing that research remained crucial for development.

In his remarks, the Director-General of NNMDA, Prof. Martins Emeje, said Nigerians should stop depending wholly on imported drugs for their healthcare needs.

Emeje, a professor of Pharmacy, said Nigeria could develop herbal medicines to cure many diseases that appear incurable through orthodox medicines.

He noted: “We can do it. Nobody should make it look like it’s a big deal to do these things. The minister unveiled four products that we started looking at four months ago. The products are for upper respiratory tract infection, diabetes, aging, and sickle cell.

“We should value local drug manufacturing and stop being dependent on foreign drugs. We should value research. By October 2024, the agency will have 11 products that will be unveiled by the President which will create over two million jobs.

He also urged the private sector to provide resources for research and development, while noting that studies have shown that the herbal industry alone will be worth $5tn by 2050.

It will be recalled that the NNMDA Research Team formulated the Ocimum Herbal Tea to reduce the hyperglycemic crises by adequately controlling blood sugar in the system for the general management of Diabetes mellitus. The product is already listed with NAFDAC.