The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians about counterfeit batches of Postinor-2 (Levonorgestrel 0.75mg), an emergency contraceptive pill, currently in circulation across the country.
In a statement released on Monday, the agency disclosed that the falsified products, identified as Type 1 and Type 2 batches, were discovered after the authorised importer, the Society for Family Health (SFH), confirmed it had no record of bringing in the consignments.
According to NAFDAC, the counterfeit versions carried glaring labelling errors, including a misspelt verification sticker that read “Veify” instead of “Verify,” and another wrongly printed phrase, “Distnibuted in Nigeria,” at the back of the pack. The original version, by contrast, carries clear fonts and correct spellings.
The agency identified the authentic product as Batch T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027 and registration number 04-6985. However, it confirmed two falsified versions: Counterfeit Product (Type 1), Batch T36184B, manufactured in August 2024 with an expiry date of August 2028, and Counterfeit Product (Type 2), Batch 332, manufactured in March 2023 with an expiry date of February 2027. Both fake batches also carry registration number 04-6985.
NAFDAC warned that the counterfeit pills may contain incorrect or harmful ingredients, improper dosages of levonorgestrel, and could have been produced under unsafe conditions. It cautioned that use of the fake contraceptives poses serious health risks, including contraceptive failure, exposure to toxic contaminants, unpredictable side effects, delayed or missed opportunity for genuine emergency contraception, and long-term reproductive health complications.
The agency also noted that unknown substances in the falsified pills could trigger allergic reactions, organ damage, or even death.
“Counterfeit medicines are unregulated, untested, and illegal, making their safety and efficacy impossible to guarantee. Patients should only obtain Postinor-2 from verified pharmacies or licensed healthcare providers,” NAFDAC stated.
The agency confirmed that investigations are ongoing to trace the source of the counterfeit products. Meanwhile, zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out nationwide surveillance and mop-up of the falsified batches.
NAFDAC further advised consumers and healthcare providers to carefully verify PIN stickers on packs, report suspected counterfeit products, and always purchase medicines from reputable outlets.
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