The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians about the circulation of an unregistered condom brand, “Foula,” discovered in parts of Ebonyi and Katsina states. Officials from NAFDAC’s Post-Marketing Surveillance directorate found the product in Abakaliki, Ebonyi, and Zango, Katsina, raising alarms over its safety and efficacy.
NAFDAC stated that the condoms, packaged in sets of three, are not authorized for sale in Nigeria. Additionally, the product labeling is not in English, which poses a barrier to users fully understanding product details. “Condoms are an effective barrier method for preventing unintended pregnancies and protecting against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections,” the agency explained. “However, to be most effective, such products must meet regulated safety standards and be used correctly.”
The agency cautioned that using unregistered and potentially substandard condoms poses significant health risks. “Illegal distribution of unregistered condoms threatens condom promotion initiatives by compromising their reliability in preventing pregnancies and protecting against STIs. If these condoms break or leak, they cannot provide adequate protection,” NAFDAC stated.
As a countermeasure, NAFDAC has instructed all zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct a comprehensive sweep of the unregistered products from the market. The agency urged importers, distributors, and consumers to be vigilant about purchasing medical devices only from authorized suppliers, checking the authenticity and physical condition of products carefully.
NAFDAC further encouraged healthcare professionals and the public to report any suspicions of counterfeit medical products. Reports can be directed to the nearest NAFDAC office, via the hotline 0800-162-3322, or by email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng. Additionally, the public can report adverse events related to medical products through the Med-Safety app, available on Android and iOS, or by visiting NAFDAC’s website.
This latest announcement underlines NAFDAC’s commitment to safeguarding public health by ensuring the quality and authenticity of medical products in circulation.
