The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, has urged the Nigerian Natural Medicines Development Agency, NNMDA, to address the proliferation of unregulated herbal drinks in the country.
Mr Kabir Elelu, the ICPC Resident Commissioner for Lagos State, made the call at a one-day training webinar titled, ‘Building a Transparent and Accountable Public Institution and Inauguration of the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, ACTU of the NNMDA’.
Elelu expressed concern over the unchecked sale of herbal mixtures, commonly referred to as “Ala Agbo,” by hawkers, noting that the consumption of such substances posed severe health risks.
“One particular area I want you to look at is the area of this natural medicine. How do we harness them and protect public health?
“You also need to look at how it has been bastardised by hawkers and some of them are killing our people.
“I want the agency to look into this and come out with a solution because it is a huge problem; it is a problem in all areas of the country with all kinds of concoctions that are killing our people.
“Now, we have high rate of liver cirrhosis and all kinds of diseases that can be associated with the intake of herbal concoctions.’’
