By Chioma Obinna

As the cost of orthodox drugs continues to skyrocket, the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, at the weekend, unveiled four locally formulated drugs for diabetes, sickle cell anaemia, anti-ageing, and antibiotics for upper respiratory tract infections.

The drugs are; Namdune (200mg) meant for anti-aging. Namdasan (200mg) for anti-sickling, Aberecin (200mg) for anti-diabetes and Nanobere (50kg).

Unveiling the drugs in Lagos during his working visit to the agency, the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Geoffrey Nnaji, promised that the federal government would not only invest in research in natural medicines but would help to commercialise the already formulated drugs by the NNMDA.

Nnaji, who said he was proud of the achievement of the Agency said he was more delighted at the level of professionalism in the production of the drugs.

“Today, the Nigerian National Natural Medicine Development Agency is under my purview and  I came to have first-hand information on how they are working and what is going on here because all I’ve been hearing is stories. I’m happy I’ve verified a lot of things, so many things they make. Those that treat arthritis, those that take care of blood and sugar, and those that take care of blood pressure, including the four I launched this afternoon.

“You can see he has done wonders because we are looking at, first and foremost, one for blood sugar, which is diabetes. You know, it controls diabetes. There’s one for ageing. because people like us, if you look at me, I’m not sure of my age. It is this kind of drug that I need to keep looking younger. There’s another one for sickle cell that prevents the sickling of the cells. You know, that one is wonderful. And there’s a fourth one for respiratory tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection that will replace Augmentin, replace Zitromycin. You know, Zitromycin is about 15,000 right now, so to speak.

“This product which can replace Augmentin is less than N1,000, these are the kind of innovations we want in science and technology and that’s why President Tinubu said research remains key to national development. This is why we have to have a research and development fund. So that if they are there, more research will be done, so you should help us and amplify it.”

Speaking to journalists shortly after the unveiling, the Director-General of the Nigeria Natural Medicine Development Agency, NNMDA, elated Professor Martins Emeje disclosed that before the end of the year, the Agency will be unveiling 11 more locally formulated drugs for various infections.

Noting that the Agency’s research farms across the country were generating positive results, he explained that they have done all the laboratory animal investigations and proven that the products are efficacious based on their animal studies.

The professor of pharmacy said their drug for anti-ageing slows down the ageing process.

He said nature is the best laboratory in the world but pride does not allow people who have gone to school to go and study nature.

He said no fewer than 25 million people in Nigeria suffer from sickle cell disease, hence the need for the formulation of the drug.  He said the diabetes drug was meant from abere seed.

Emeje urged the federal government to ensure that people are not just given money for research without writing a proper research grant proposal.

He disclosed that by October this year, President  Ahmed Tinubu will be launching 11 more products formulated by the agency, adding that the 11 products would create not less than 2 million jobs.

“Nigeria is the biggest black nation in the world. Nigeria has the highest plant biodiversity in Africa. So if we are talking of contribution to health in the herbal area, is Nigeria not supposed to be on top? And we at NNMDA, are very serious about it. All we just need is to allow us to do our work.”