Rise of fake drugs in Nigeria: How to protect yourself

For many Nigerians, buying medicine can feel like a risky gamble. The country is grappling with a surge of counterfeit and substandard drugs flooding the markets. These fake medicines look real but often contain the wrong or no active ingredients, putting lives in danger. In fact, a United Nations study revealed that up to 500,000 people in sub-Saharan Africa die each year due to counterfeit drugs, including 267,000 deaths from bogus malaria treatments and 169,000 from fake antibiotics given to children. Nigerian health experts warn that this menace is worsening health outcomes for diseases like malaria, pneumonia, hypertension, and diabetes, as patients who take ineffective pills get sicker or develop resistance to genuine treatment​.

​A growing threat to public health

Several factors have fueled the rise of fake drugs in Nigeria. Economic hardship plays a big role: with about 133 million Nigerians living in poverty, many people opt for cheaper medicines sold by street vendors or open markets, unknowingly risking their health. The recent exit of major pharmaceutical companies like GlaxoSmithKline and Sanofi from Nigeria has also made genuine drugs scarcer and more expensive, pushing desperate patients toward black-market alternatives. For example, inhalers for asthma more than doubled in price after these companies left, so patients who can’t afford them may turn to unregulated sellers.

Weak regulation and enforcement further contribute to the problem. While one agency survey in 2022 alarmingly claimed that 70% of drugs in Nigeria could be counterfeit, NAFDAC (National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control) insists the figure is closer to 15%. Regardless of the exact number, officials admit counterfeiters are highly active, and about half of all drugs imported into Nigeria might be fake.

Common counterfeit medicines in Nigeria

Fake or substandard versions of many medicines can be found in Nigeria, but some types are especially widespread. These dangerous knock-offs include both lifesaving drugs and everyday remedies:

• Antimalarial drugs:

Malaria is common in Nigeria, and so are counterfeit malaria treatments. Criminals have been caught selling fake versions of artemisinin-based therapies (like Lonart or other Artemether/Lumefantrine brands) that don’t actually cure malaria. Taking a fake antimalarial means a patient’s illness can worsen, which contributes to an estimated 267,000 malaria-related deaths yearly in Africa due to bad drugs.

• Antibiotics:

Counterfeit antibiotics (such as fake Augmentin or amoxicillin tablets) are frequently found in circulation. These fakes might contain the wrong antibiotic or too little of the drug, so infections don’t get treated properly. Worse, using substandard antibiotics can lead to antibiotic-resistant infections. Up to 169,000 child pneumonia deaths each year in Africa are linked to bogus antibiotics​.

• Painkillers and other common drugs:

Everyday pain relief medicines like paracetamol, ibuprofen, and tramadol are often faked. Many Nigerians buy painkillers from open markets for quick relief, not knowing some pills could be chalk or harmful substitutes. There have been cases of banned or controlled drugs (like opioids and codeine syrups) sold openly as well. Fake pain medications might do nothing for your pain, or cause addiction and other health problems if they contain unapproved substances.

• Chronic illness medications:

Drugs for long-term conditions, such as blood pressure pills, diabetes medications, and even anti-asthma inhalers, have been found in counterfeit forms. For example, fake blood pressure meds or sugar pills sold as insulin can put patients at severe risk if their condition goes untreated. Doctors in Nigeria warn that strokes, uncontrolled diabetes, and asthma attacks have been triggered by patients unknowingly using ineffective medications.

• Herbal remedies and others:

Even herbal or traditional remedies are not spared. Some unlicensed concoctions are peddled as miracle cures for everything from sexual weakness to cancer. These mixtures often have no quality checks and can be adulterated with dangerous chemicals. NAFDAC has seized fake herbal tonics and unregistered supplements touted in markets. Consumers should be cautious with any medicine, “herbal” or not, that lacks proper approval.

How to spot and avoid buying fake drugs

Despite the scale of the problem, there are practical steps you can take to protect yourself and your family from fake medicines. Being vigilant and informed as a consumer can make a huge difference. Here are some realistic tips for everyday Nigerians to avoid purchasing counterfeit or substandard drugs:

• Buy medicines from licensed pharmacies or hospitals: Whenever possible, get your drugs from reputable pharmacies, clinics, or hospital dispensaries. Avoid buying from open markets, street hawkers, or unregistered patent medicine shops. Authorised pharmacies are more likely to stock genuine products, as they buy from official distributors and are regulated. In contrast, drugs sold in buses, kiosks, or roadside stalls often come from dubious sources. It might be tempting that they’re cheaper or nearby, but it’s not worth the risk. Spending a bit more at a trusted pharmacy is far safer than gambling on a street bargain that could be fake.

  

  Photo Source – thinkglobalhealth.org

• Check the packaging and labels carefully: Before paying for any medicine, inspect the package. Look for an official NAFDAC registration number, an 8-digit number that every approved drug in Nigeria must have on its label. If there’s no NAFDAC number or it looks tampered with, do not buy that product. Also check the expiry date, batch number, and manufacturer details on the pack. Many counterfeits have spelling mistakes, blurry printing, or inconsistent fonts on their labels, signs of poor-quality packaging. If the medication comes in a bottle or packet, ensure the seal is unbroken and the hologram or security seal (if the brand uses one) is intact. For instance, a genuine antimalarial pack will have professional packaging, whereas a fake might have a flimsy box or misaligned text. Trust your eyes: if anything about the packaging looks off or of low quality, stay away.
• Use verification tools when available: These days, some genuine drug manufacturers include scratch-off codes or SMS verification on their products to help customers verify authenticity. If your medicine has a scratch panel or QR code, follow the instructions – scratch it and text the revealed code to the provided number, or scan it with the official app. Within seconds you should get a message confirming if the product is “genuine” or “fake”. This Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) is free for consumers and is a powerful way to spot fakes. Additionally, NAFDAC recently launched the GreenBook database, an online registry of verified medicines that anyone can search. You can enter a drug’s name or NAFDAC number on the GreenBook website to see if it’s registered. Making use of these tech tools – even a simple phone text, can save you from ingesting a dangerous counterfeit.
• Be wary of deals that seem too good to be true: Price is often a big clue. If a drug is being sold at a much lower price than usual, be cautious. Counterfeiters often lure buyers with bargains on expensive medications. NAFDAC warns that products sold at unusually cheap prices are frequently substandard or fake. For example, if a certain antibiotic normally costs ₦5,000 for a full course but someone offers it to you for ₦1,000, that’s a red flag. Don’t let desperation or thrift push you into buying medicine that doesn’t look right. It’s better to seek generic but legitimate alternatives from a pharmacist than to buy a supposed “brand” for suspiciously cheap. Remember, when a product is too cheap, it is most likely compromised​.

  

  Photo Source – Vanguardngr.com

• Examine the medicine itself if possible: When you open the package, take a moment to observe the pills, tablets or syrup. Genuine medicines from the same batch should all look uniform – the same size, shape, colour, without chips or discoloration. If you see tablets in the same pack that vary in colour or marking, that’s odd. Also, check the taste or smell if it’s a medicine you’re familiar with. A common clue is an unusual taste – like the case of the fake eye drops that tasted sugary. Some counterfeits might smell strongly of chemicals or have an odd aftertaste due to impurities. While you shouldn’t sample medicines unnecessarily, using your senses and intuition can alert you to something wrong. If a normally bitter pill tastes sweet, or a capsule’s powder is a strange colour, stop and double-check with a pharmacist.
• Talk to a pharmacist or doctor: Don’t underestimate the value of professional advice. Pharmacists in Nigeria are trained to spot fake drugs – many pharmacies even use texts or scanners to verify drugs before selling. If you have any doubt about a medicine’s authenticity, ask the pharmacist to verify it or explain the security features on the packaging. Likewise, if a doctor prescribes a medicine, you can ask if there are known fake versions in circulation and what to look out for. Health professionals are generally aware of current NAFDAC alerts on fake products (for example, alerts about fake antimalarials or antibiotics in circulation) and can guide you. Never feel shy to question the source or appearance of a drug; your health comes first, and a good provider will support your caution.
• Report suspicious drugs and bad outcomes: Finally, if you suspect that you’ve encountered a fake drug, do your part by reporting it. NAFDAC encourages consumers to report any suspicious or substandard medicine to the nearest NAFDAC office or via its e-reporting platforms. You can call their hotline (such as 0800-1-NAFDAC) or send an email with details of the product. Reporting is important because it helps the authorities trace the counterfeit supply chain and remove those products from the market. If you suffered an adverse reaction (like unusual side effects or no improvement in your condition), you should also report that – it could be due to a fake medicine​. By speaking up, you’re not only protecting yourself but also helping to protect other Nigerians from the same danger. NAFDAC has been actively cracking down on fake drug syndicates, and public tips can strengthen these efforts.

Staying safe in a challenging market

Nigeria’s fight against fake drugs is ongoing, and it requires vigilance from both the authorities and the public. The government, through NAFDAC and other agencies, is stepping up enforcement – from seizing truckloads of illicit pills in markets to rolling out advanced tracking systems like the blockchain-based traceability project. These are encouraging moves, but as a consumer, your awareness is the first line of defence. By choosing your sources wisely, inspecting your medicines, and using the tools at your disposal, you can greatly reduce the chance of ending up with a fake product.

It’s important to spread the word as well. Educate friends and family about the simple checks they can do, such as looking for NAFDAC numbers and not buying drugs from just anywhere. In a country where counterfeit drugs have caused so much harm, a bit of caution and knowledge can literally save lives. Staying safe means staying informed – always remember that your health is worth more than any “bargain” pill. With collective vigilance and continued crackdowns on perpetrators, Nigerians can hope for a future where no one has to fear that their medicine is a dangerous fraud. Until then, remain alert, ask questions, and never hesitate to report suspicious drugs. In the face of this fake drug menace, every informed consumer action counts towards protecting our communities.

ALSO READ: Breaking bad habits: How to ditch unhealthy patterns for good