NAFDAC Raises the Alarm Over Adulterated Malaria, Antibiotic Drugs in Circulation
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a stark warning to Nigerians after laboratory tests confirmed the circulation of falsified malaria and antibiotic medicines, despite their availability from licensed vendors.
In a public alert released on September 10, 2025, the agency identified Artemetrin DS — an anti-malarial combination of artemether and lumefantrine — and Ciprofit 500, a ciprofloxacin-based antibiotic, as substandard and falsified products currently being sold in parts of the country.
Both drugs carried false NAFDAC registration numbers and misleading packaging details, making them appear authentic to unsuspecting buyers.
According to NAFDAC’s findings, advanced testing revealed that Artemetrin DS contained only 59.2 percent of the expected artemether content and 71.2 percent of lumefantrine — well below acceptable potency levels.
Even more alarming, Ciprofit 500 tablets were found to contain just 5.7 percent of the required ciprofloxacin, rendering them practically ineffective.
The agency stressed that these products were not sourced from street hawkers or black-market dealers but were obtained from licensed wholesalers, raising concerns about how deeply falsified medicines may have infiltrated Nigeria’s formal pharmaceutical supply chain.
“The use of these falsified products poses grave health risks, including treatment failure, worsening of infections, and the development of drug resistance,” NAFDAC said. It added that patients relying on these medicines for malaria or serious bacterial infections could face life-threatening consequences.
NAFDAC has directed its zonal and state offices to intensify surveillance and “mop up” the affected drugs wherever they are found. The agency has also urged healthcare providers, distributors, and the public to immediately stop using or selling the identified products and to report suspicious medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office.
Consumers are advised to check drug authenticity, purchase only from verified outlets, and report any adverse effects through NAFDAC’s pharmacovigilance channels, including its Med-safety mobile app.
This latest alert underscores the ongoing struggle against counterfeit and substandard medicines in Nigeria, where malaria remains one of the leading causes of illness and death. Health experts warn that ineffective drugs not only endanger lives but also contribute to the growing problem of antimicrobial resistance.
