The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has cautioned Nigerians against the use of fake contraceptive pills currently circulating in some parts of the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the agency disclosed that its surveillance teams uncovered counterfeit batches of popular contraceptive brands during routine market monitoring. It said laboratory tests conducted on the samples revealed that the falsified products contained either wrong formulations or harmful substances capable of endangering users’ health.
NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, warned that consuming unregistered or counterfeit contraceptives could lead to unintended pregnancies, severe health complications, or even fatalities.
“Women and young girls who rely on these fake contraceptives are at high risk. Some of the counterfeits lack active ingredients, while others contain toxic chemicals. We urge Nigerians to be vigilant and always purchase their medicines from licensed pharmacies and healthcare facilities,” Adeyeye said.
She added that the agency is working closely with security agencies to track down the syndicates behind the distribution of the counterfeit products.
The DG further advised the public to verify the authenticity of medicines using the NAFDAC Med-Safety mobile app and to report suspicious products through NAFDAC’s customer care lines or official platforms.
Public health experts have also expressed concern, noting that the circulation of fake contraceptives not only undermines reproductive health but also threatens Nigeria’s progress in reducing maternal mortality rates.
NAFDAC assured that it would intensify its nationwide sensitization campaign to educate citizens on the dangers of counterfeit medicines, particularly contraceptives, while pledging to protect the health of Nigerians through stricter market regulation.
