How to Verify if a Drug is NAFDAC Registered (2026 Guide)

Nigeria has a serious counterfeit drug problem. The World Health Organization estimates that up to 30-40% of medicines in sub-Saharan Africa are substandard or falsified. NAFDAC has made enormous strides in fighting fakes, but the responsibility does not rest with regulators alone. Every Nigerian who buys medicine — whether from a pharmacy in Lekki or a patent medicine store in Aba — should know how to verify that what they are buying is genuine.

This guide walks you through the exact steps to verify any drug, from the NAFDAC registration number format to the online portal and mobile verification. No special skills required — just your phone and 5 minutes.

Step 1: Find the NAFDAC Registration Number

Every legitimate pharmaceutical product sold in Nigeria must carry a NAFDAC registration number on its packaging. This is your starting point.

The number typically follows an alphanumeric format like A4-1234 or 04-0723. The prefix indicates the product category — 'A' or numeric prefixes for drugs, 'B' for food products, 'C' for cosmetics. Look for it on:

• The outer carton (secondary packaging)
• The blister pack or bottle (primary packaging)
• The patient information leaflet

Red flag: If there is no NAFDAC registration number anywhere on the product, do not buy it. Period.

However, having a number printed on the box is not enough. Counterfeiters routinely copy legitimate NAFDAC numbers and print them on fake products. That is why you need Steps 2 and 3.

Step 2: Verify Online Using the NAFDAC Green Book

NAFDAC maintains an online database of every registered product called the Green Book. You can access it at greenbook.nafdac.gov.ng.

Here is how to use it:

1. Go to the Green Book portal on your phone or computer
2. Enter the NAFDAC registration number, product name, or active ingredient in the search box
3. Click Search and review the results
4. Cross-check the details: compare the product name, manufacturer, dosage form, and strength shown in the portal with what is printed on your product's packaging

Critical point: Do not just check that the registration number exists. Verify that the manufacturer name, product name, and strength all match. If the portal says "Ciprotab 500mg by Fidson" but your product says "Cipro 500mg by an unknown company," the product is likely fake even though the number matches.

Also check whether the product appears on NAFDAC's list of suspended, revoked, or recalled products. A product may have been registered in the past but is no longer approved.

Step 3: Use the NAFDAC Mobile Authentication Service (MAS)

For high-risk products like antimalarials and antibiotics, NAFDAC requires manufacturers to include a Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) scratch panel on the packaging.

Here is how MAS works:

1. Find the MAS scratch panel on the product packaging (similar to a recharge card panel)
2. Scratch to reveal the unique code underneath
3. Send the code via SMS to 38353
4. Wait for the reply — it will confirm whether the product is genuine

If the system responds that the code is invalid or has already been used, do not use the product. An already-verified code means either someone checked before you (in which case the product may have been repackaged) or the code has been cloned by counterfeiters.

Important: Not all products carry MAS codes. The system is mainly deployed on commonly counterfeited categories. If your product does not have a MAS panel, rely on the Green Book verification and physical inspection.

Step 4: Inspect the Packaging Physically

Even with digital verification, physical inspection remains important. Here is what to check:

• Print quality: Genuine products have sharp, clear text and images. Fakes often have blurred printing, misspellings, or inconsistent fonts
• Batch number and expiry date: These should be clearly printed or embossed, not hand-stamped or stickered over. They should match on the outer carton, blister pack, and leaflet
• Tablet/capsule appearance: Genuine tablets are uniform in colour, size, and shape. Any chips, cracks, discolouration, or unusual smell is a red flag
• Packaging seal: The packaging should be intact and properly sealed. Signs of tampering, resealing, or repackaging are grounds for rejection
• NAFDAC logo: Look for the green and white NAFDAC emblem, which should be clearly printed (not stickered on)

Step 5: Buy From the Right Places

Verification only works if you are buying from sources where genuine products are likely to be found in the first place:

• Licensed pharmacies — registered with the Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN)
• Registered patent medicine stores — legally allowed to sell OTC drugs
• NAFDAC Coordinated Wholesale Centres (CWC) — regulated wholesale markets

Avoid buying medicines from:

• Roadside vendors and bus stop sellers
• Unregistered open market stalls
• Unverified online sellers on social media

This does not mean every drug from a pharmacy is genuine or every market drug is fake, but your odds are dramatically better when you buy from regulated channels.

What To Do If You Suspect a Fake Drug

If you believe you have purchased a counterfeit or substandard drug:

1. Stop using it immediately
2. Report to NAFDAC via their hotline: 0800-NAFDAC (0800-623322)
3. Report to the pharmacy or store where you purchased it
4. Keep the product and packaging as evidence — do not dispose of it
5. You can also report via NAFDAC's social media channels or walk into any NAFDAC office

Quick Reference: Drugs Commonly Counterfeited in Nigeria

These drug categories are particularly targeted by counterfeiters and deserve extra vigilance during verification:

• Antimalarials — Coartem (artemether-lumefantrine), artesunate
• Antibiotics — ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole (Septrin)
• Pain medications — tramadol, diclofenac
• Cardiovascular drugs — amlodipine, lisinopril

For a deeper dive into NAFDAC's regulatory framework, registration numbers, and the Green Book system, see our comprehensive NAFDAC Drug Verification Guide. You can also check our guide on how to spot fake drugs in Nigeria.

Bottom Line

Verifying a drug takes less than 5 minutes and could save your life. The steps are simple:

1. Find the NAFDAC number on the packaging
2. Look it up on the Green Book portal
3. Use the MAS scratch code if available
4. Inspect the packaging quality
5. Buy from registered pharmacies and stores

Do not skip verification just because a drug is cheap, familiar, or recommended by someone you trust. Counterfeiters target the most popular drugs precisely because demand is high and consumers let their guard down. Stay vigilant.