The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sounded the alarm over counterfeit batches of Postinor-2, a popular emergency contraceptive pill, now in circulation across Nigeria.

The agency’s warning came after reports from the Society for Family Health, the product’s marketing authorisation holder, confirmed it had not imported the suspicious stock. NAFDAC explained that the fake pills can be picked out by their packaging if people look closely enough. 

The PIN verification sticker on the counterfeit pack carries smaller text, and instead of “Verify,” the word appears as “Veify.” On the back, the text reads “Distributed in Nigeria” rather than “Distributed in Nigeria.” These errors may seem obvious on paper, but in reality, many buyers, those in a hurry or those with limited literacy, often miss such details.

But spelling mistakes are not where the danger ends. For millions of Nigerian women, especially the young and those struggling on low incomes, Postinor-2 is sometimes the last line of defence against unintended pregnancies. 

With genuine packs sold at prices that many cannot comfortably afford, fake versions find a market by being cheaper. Poverty and the rising cost of living have opened the door for counterfeit traders, leaving desperate buyers at the mercy of pills that may fail entirely or cause serious health complications.

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Health experts caution that taking counterfeit contraceptives carries real risks, ranging from pregnancy when prevention fails to the possibility of harmful reactions from unsafe ingredients. In a country where access to reliable healthcare is already limited, fake medicines only add another layer of danger for women with few safe alternatives.

The spread of fake Postinor-2 points to a bigger crisis in Nigeria’s drug market. Counterfeit antibiotics, painkillers, and even malaria treatments have circulated for years, endangering lives. And while NAFDAC issues regular alerts and sometimes cracks down, weak enforcement and the constant demand for cheaper drugs mean counterfeiters keep slipping through.

For now, the agency is urging buyers to inspect packs carefully before purchase and stick to trusted pharmacies. But the wider issue remains: until economic hardship is tackled and genuine medicines become affordable, fake drugs will continue to fill the gap, and Nigerians who can least afford the consequences will remain the most exposed.

Cynthia Nwanonyiri