LASG warns against sale of unregistered herbal products

The Lagos State Consumer Protection Agency has warned against the sale of unregistered herbal products in the state.

A statement obtained on Monday noted that the agency’s officials paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board on Thursday in a bid to foster collaboration between the two agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of Lagos residents.

During the meeting, the General Manager of LASCOPA, Afolabi Solebo, emphasised the growing concern over the proliferation of unregistered and potentially harmful herbal products being marketed online.

He noted that the ease of access to unregulated products posed significant health risks to consumers.

A February report by The PUNCH revealed that skyrocketing drug prices and dire economic crisis were making Nigerians resort to herbal medicines as alternative treatment.

The report by PUNCH Healthwise also detailed the pains of patients managing long-term ailments and their inability to afford essential medications due to the rise in prices.

“The rise in the number of unregistered herbal drugs being sold on social media platforms is alarming. Many of these products have not undergone the necessary safety evaluations, and their efficacy is often questionable. This not only endangers public health but also undermines the credibility of genuine traditional medicine practitioners,” Solebo said during the visit.

The Registrar of the Lagos State Traditional Medicine Board, Prince Babatunde Adele, welcomed the initiative and expressed the board’s readiness to collaborate with LASCOPA.

“We are committed to upholding the integrity of traditional medicine in Lagos. By working closely with LASCOPA, we can strengthen our regulatory frameworks and take decisive action against those who flout the rules. Our goal is to protect consumers and promote the use of authentic and safe herbal medicines,” Adele stated.

Both agencies agreed to set up a joint technical committee to map out strategies to regulate the safe sales of herbal products and traditional practices on social media platforms.

“Additionally, the agencies plan to launch public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the dangers of unregistered herbal drugs and the importance of purchasing products from reputable sources.

“They also aim to provide a platform for consumers to report suspicious products and vendors,” it partly read.