Pat Stevens/
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a strong warning to Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit batches of Postinor-2, an emergency contraceptive pill widely used across the country.
The agency confirmed that falsified Type 1 and Type 2 versions of the product are now in circulation, posing a serious risk to women who rely on the medicine to prevent unwanted pregnancies.
The alarm was raised after the Society of Family Health, the company legally authorised to distribute the contraceptive in Nigeria, reported suspicious consignments in the market.
According to the company, they did not import the identified counterfeit batches, prompting NAFDAC to investigate and confirm their falsification.
Key differences have been spotted between the authentic and fake products.
On the counterfeit packs, the PIN verification sticker is printed in a smaller font, and the word “Verify” is misspelt as “Veify.” The original sticker is printed in a larger, clearer font.
Another glaring error on the counterfeit packaging is the misspelling of “Distributed in Nigeria” as “Distnibuted in Nigeria.” These spelling errors, though seemingly minor, are critical markers consumers can use to identify fake products.
The fake batches are labeled with details such as Batch No. T36184B (manufactured in August 2024 and expiring August 2028) and Batch No. 332 (manufactured in March 2023 and expiring February 2027), all carrying the same NAFDAC registration number as the authentic drug, 04-6985.
The genuine product currently in circulation is identified with Batch No. T32458H, manufactured in February 2023 and expiring February 2027.
Postinor-2, containing levonorgestrel 0.75mg, is one of the most commonly used emergency contraceptives in Nigeria. Counterfeit versions not only fail to prevent pregnancy but also expose women to potential health risks due to the unknown substances contained in the falsified tablets.
NAFDAC has urged healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and the general public to remain vigilant and carefully check packs before purchase or use.
Any suspicion of substandard or falsified medicines should be reported to the nearest NAFDAC office, via email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng, or through the agency’s toll-free line 0800-162-3322. Reports can also be filed through the Med-Safety mobile application, available on Android and iOS, or the E-reporting platform on the NAFDAC website.
The agency further disclosed that this alert will be shared with the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System to track the spread of the falsified medicine internationally.
Consumers are strongly advised to stop using any suspicious packs of Postinor-2 and report them immediately.
NAFDAC also encouraged patients and healthcare workers to report any side effects or unusual reactions linked to the product through its pharmacovigilance channels.
The agency stressed that counterfeit medicines remain a grave danger to public health and called for greater cooperation from the public in identifying and reporting them.
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